News: "Voice of a generation," Adrian Mole comes to the Curve next March.

By JBR

To say Adrian Mole was my hero is an understatement. Shortly after I discovered him in WH Smith on the Kilburn High Road, back in 1982, I realised I had found a kindred spirit. A soulmate. Adrian Mole was my Harry Potter. I read and reread him so often the pages wore thin. I emulated him, scribbling poetry morning noon and night - and yes, barefacedly sending them to the national newspapers for publication, just as he sent his to John Tydeman. Thankfully this was all before the internet, typed - yes, typed onto paper and long-lost to the sands of time.

National newspapers were a little thin on the ground at the Curve’s press launch on Monday morning. Apparently there was a new (1980’s) cat story-turned-musical in town at the Palladium that nabbed the lion’s share. Well, up in Leicester there’s another new (1980’s) story-turned-musical at the Curve that needs a little love. This one probably won’t have a rap though. Still, the absence of national press did allow Fiona Allan, the Curve’s Chief Executive, to take a snipe at how the national critics killed Water Babies with their ‘vitriolic’ coverage. Thankfully, despite mixed reviews for Water Babies, the Curve will continue its support, not only for new musical theatre writing, but new emerging talent. And thank goodness they do.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ is being given a new lease of life. Director Luke Sheppard explained how, re-reading it as an adult, he realised on how many levels the piece operated. Adrian Mole was the voice of a generation, an Everyman who continues to resonate today. Musical theatre, operating on so many levels itself, does seem to be the perfect genre to tell that story. How fitting too that it should be premiered here, in Adrian’s home town.

That Sheppard helms his biggest show to date alongside his long-term associates Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary is auspicious. Here are three of our brightest young talents, musical theatre’s terribly well behaved brat pack. Some feel they’ve been scratching at the doors for too long now. Well, here they are and it’s a testament to their tenacity as much as to their talent. Sheppard revealed they’d been pestering the Curve for years “Please let us do this”, “please let us do this” and he still seemed surprised that the Curve had finally given in. A commitment to new musical theatre writing, and to new musical theatre talent? Bigger producers have baulked at less.

So kudos to the Curve. And to the creative team - a huge congratulations. And to Adrian - Welcome Home, Leicester’s favourite son.

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