ABOUT
The award-winning musical The Rink skated into Southwark Playhouse for a strictly limited season from May - June 2018, for its first London revival in almost 30 years.
With an irresistible score by the legendary Tony and Olivier Award-Winning John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago; Cabaret) and exhilarating book by Tony Award-winning Terrence McNally (Ragtime; Kiss of the Spiderwoman), The Rink originally premiered on Broadway in 1984 starring Chita Rivera and Liza Minelli.
The Rink is set in a Coney Island of the mind, on the ragged fringe of the New York show-biz world. Anna is about to sell her roller rink. It is to be demolished and with it Anna's sour memories of her husband and daughter. The estranged daughter, Angel, returns after a long absence, hoping to save the rink and patch things up with her mother. Through a series of flashbacks and revelations, the Rink itself becomes an extra arena in which mother and daughter examine their past, present and future.
Heartfelt, tender and bursting with show-stopping songs, including Coloured Lights and Don’t “Ah Ma” Me, The Rink is directed by Adam Lenson (Songs For a New World; Superhero) and choreographed by Fabian Aloise (Working; Our House, UK Tour)
REVIEWS
★★★★ WhatsOnStage
★★★★★ Londonist
★★★★★Jonathan Baz
★★★★★ West End Wilma
★★★★★ Theatre Weekly
★★★★★ Sincerely Amy
★★★★★ Theatre-News
★★★★ The Upcoming
★★★★ London Theatre
★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ Evening Standard
★★★★ London Theatre 1
★★★★★ Musical Theatre Review
★★★★ Broadway World
★★★★ Sunday Express
★★★★ The Spy in the Stalls
★★★★ Mail on Sunday
★★★★ Daily Mail
★★★★★"A not-to-be-missed, brilliant production of an underrated masterpiece" Musical Theatre Review
★★★★"A big, bursting powerhouse of a revival" The Stage
★★★★ "it raises the roof" Theatre Weekly
★★★★★"A masterclass in acting, directing and design... musical theatre at its best”West End Wilma
★★★★★ “The Rink at the Southwark Playhouse is theatrical brilliance" Rewrite This Story
★★★★★"The Rink is joyous, uplifting, reflective and pulls on all your heart strings. This exquisite production is a masterclass in musical theatre that will make you laugh, cry and everything in-between" Sincerely Amy
★★★★★ “this piece is musical theatre at its finest” Pocketsize Theatre
★★★★"this summer’s must-see musical" The Upcoming
"Get your skates on, you're in for a treat” Time Out
“Caroline O'Connor gives a powerhouse performance” Sunday Express
"Gemma Sutton's powerful voice goes a long way' The Stag
CAST
Caroline O'Connor
Stewart Clarke
Elander Moore
Ben Redfern
Gemma Sutton
Ross Dawes
Michael Lin
Jason Winter
with
Amelia Ioannou & Millie Samuels Lee
CREW
Book
Terrance McNally
Music
John Kander
Lyrics
Fred Ebb
Production Manager
Gareth Edwards
Stage Manager
Catherine Cooper
Assistant Stage Manager
Beth Lewis
Assistant Choreographer
Jason Winter
Skate Captain
Ross Dawes
Casting Director
Jacob Sparrow
Wig Designer
Richard Mawbey
For DEM Productions
General Manager &
Production Accounting
Ceri Lothian & Ramin Sabi
Production Assistant
Abbii Clark
Director
Adam Lenson
Producer
Jack Maple,
Brian Zeilinger
Choreographer
Fabian Aloise
Set Designer
Bec Chippendale
Costume Designer
Libby Todd
Musical Director
Joe Bunker
Lighting Designer
Matt Daw
Sound Designer
Mike Thacker
for Orbital Sound
Assosciate Director
Franny Anne Rafferty
Assistant Director
Jo Kirkland
Orchestrator
Greg Arrowsmith