Ragtime

CAST

COALHOUSE WALKER JR | Jonathon Grant
SARAH | Sara Rajeswaran
MOTHER | Chloë Faine
FATHER | Andrew Overin
TATEH | Rob Archibald
EMMA GOLDMAN | Zo Pisera
EVELYN NESBIT | Deborah Lean
YOUNGER BROTHER | Robert J. Stanex
BOOKER T WASHINGTON | Chris Nelson
GRANDFATHER | Brian Voakes
HARRY HOUDINI | Daryl Armstrong
SARAH'S FRIEND | Tasha Msanide
LITTLE GIRL | Jessica Helfgott
HENRY FORD | Callum Runciman
JP MORGAN | Stephen Beeny
WILLIE CONKLIN | Joseph Henshaw
LITTLE BOY | Evan Huntley-Robertson
COALHOUSE WALKER III | Brooklyn Appiah / Dwayne Ravenor

ENSEMBLE
Michael Cannon
Andrew Caruso
Becky Chisholm
Jessie Davidson
Paris Evans
Vanessa Forte
Ruth Granton
Jacob Hajjar
Adrian Hau
Natasha Hotung
George Kendrick
Siân Marr
Tess Robinson
Nicole Vassell

CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR | Matt Gould
MUSICAL DIRECTOR | Ryan Macaulay
CHOREOGRAPHERS | Victoria-Louise Currie and Rachel Elfassy-Bitoun
PRODUCERS | Lizzie Levett and Pippa Kyle
SET DESIGNER | Steven King
COSTUME DESIGNER | Deborah Lean
LIGHTING DESIGNER | Olly Levett
SOUND DESIGNER | Adrian Jeakins
MARKETING | Stephen Beeny
PHOTOGRAPHERS | David Ovenden and Dancers of London
COMMITTEE LIAISON | Deborah Lean

Many groups would not be able to cast this show, let alone put it on stage, but Sedos can do so and with verve and invention in Matt Gould’s pacy and intelligent production, managing his cast of 32 well and ensuring that the complex storyline is at all times as clear as possible. MD Ryan Macaulay conducts an 18-piece orchestra and it is a delight to hear this score played so well and in these orchestrations. Choreography from Victoria Louise-Currie and Rachel Elfassy-Bitoun is nicely differentiated for the various groups and makes good use of the multi-layered set.

This is a truly outstanding production, lively, slick and colourful. Although Sedos describes itself as “amateur” there’s little doubt that their attitude to every production is totally professional.

Sedos manage to execute a perfect reading of a challenging score with multiple scene transitions.

Sedos have achieved another high class and polished performance in Ragtime. It managed to move me from anger to sadness and send shivers down my spine throughout.

There is too much good about this production to sum it all up in one short review but if you are a fan of the bombastic in musical theatre.Ragtimeis a must see and you never know when you might have the opportunity again with such a rarely performed work. Sedos have bravely taken a risk on this one and it has paid off in spades. An accomplished piece of theatre executed by an accomplished group of peoples whose love of the art shines through in everything they do.

This Sedos production is a marvel and is not just an excellent amateur production. It is genuinely one of the best shows to grace a London stage this year.

It is shocking to me that this production is Amateur Dramatics, as the quality of the performances, the costumes, lighting, orchestra, and production quality is very high.

An orchestra of eighteen and a cast of thirty-two is impressive for the West End these days, let alone amateur dramatics. The production team is worth a mention as well, for several reasons… It is difficult to balance out the sound with a cast and an orchestra as large as this, but the techies here do a remarkable job, with not a single lyric or line of spoken dialogue missed thanks to each and every microphone functioning as it should throughout.

Sedos have created a captivating and heartbreaking production which should stay with you long after you leave the theatre. You’d be hard pressed to find such an abundance of talent elsewhere in the West End.