MYCO were all ready to bring famous musical CHESS to Oxford Playhouse back in 2020 but then Covid hit and the show could not go on. They resurrected it in 2021 after rehearsing over Zoom, but once again just before the curtain was due to go up, lockdown happened.
Knowing it was time to move on and give MYCO something new to work on, by the time theatres finally reopened, the Musical Youth Company of Oxford instead chose the happy-go-lucky Me And My Girl to lift their audiences REVIEW: “An unbeatable night out” MYCO do it again with all-singing-all-dancing musical Me and My Girl and Chess was shelved indefinitely.
Or so we thought because such was the love and support for the musical, despite many of the original cast moving on (MYCO is for 12-19 year-olds) they requested a reunion to finally see Chess realised on stage, and their wish has been granted.
Which is why you can now book to see Chess at Oxford Playhouse on August 9-10, almost five years in the making, with a cast of 30 and an on stage band.
For those unfamiliar with Chess The Musical, made famous by its stars Barbara Dickson and Elaine Paige, and songs such as ‘I know Him So Well’, it’s co-written by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Benny and Bjorn, and features competitive gamesmanship, super power politics and passionate liaisons in a gripping story set against a background of the Cold War.
‘I still have to pinch myself that it’s really happening and am struck by how oddly familiar it feels – coming back to the music which remains etched in my memory after all this time’
Isaac Jackson, who plays lead role Anatoly, and has graduated from university in the meantime, says: “In all honesty, I still have to pinch myself that it’s really happening and am struck by how oddly familiar it feels – coming back to the music which remains etched in my memory after all this time, and being reunited with so many people I haven’t seen for over four years.
“So there’s a strange sense of things slotting back into place, and a shared joy in something left unfulfilled for so long finally coming to fruition, but the one thing I know for certain is that this is not a production you want to miss!”
‘there is a shared joy in something left unfulfilled for so long finally coming to fruition’
Producer Julie Todd was as surprised as anyone when the original cast approached her and asked to restage Chess. “When they collectively came back to us and asked if we could stage it this summer it seemed like the right opportunity because this might be last chance we can get them altogether again,” she says”.
“It does mean that we only have a week to rehearse together, so we’ve been putting in a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure it’s as professional as possible.
“It’s quite a challenge to get it ready in time, but we will get there,” Julie adds, “because we are fulfilling our promise to see Chess on the Oxford Playhouse stage, even if it’s not quite as polished as usual!
‘I can’t quite believe it’s happening but it’s very exciting’
“So whether you are ABBA fans or just love musical theatre you will love this show. and the performers really shine through. I can’t quite believe it’s happening but it’s very exciting.
Or as Isaac concludes: “Even after such a chaotic four years our small cast and crew remain united in our love both for theatre and specifically for this show and that’s what really matters.”
MYCO’s Chess The Musical runs at Oxford Playhouse from Fri 9 – Sat 10 Aug. Book at https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/chess-the-musical