Committee… (A New Musical) has opened at Donmar Warehouse. Directed by Adam Penford with book and lyrics by Hadley Fraser and Josie Rourke, the piece examines the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into Whitehall’s relationship with the charity Kids Company.
Based on quotations from the parliamentary transcript of the evidence sessions, as well as oral and written evidence submitted to the inquiry, Committee… (A Musical) wants you to draw your own conclusions. Here are five reasons you need to book your tickets…
Sandra Marvin (Camila Batmanghelidjh) and the company in Committee
Multiple Sides To Every Story
The demise of Kids Company dominated the news agenda in 2015 with a mix of celebrity and scandal that proved too juicy for the media to ignore. However, what was missing in all the coverage was the human cost of this tragedy, and Committee… manages to capture that. In the glare of the committee room at Portcullis House, every nuance of this complex tale is on display. Committee… adds music to the tale but removes the spin, leaving you to make up your own mind.
Robert Jones’ design
In Robert Jones’ hands the mundane interior of a committee room is transformed into something that feels closer to a gladiatorial battle, a spectacle designed much more for TV consumers than probing the collapse of a charity. The set’s realism drags you in, making you feel more like a participant in a show trial than an audience member.
Rosemary Ashe (Kate Hoey MP)
Masterclass in Verbatim Theatre
Verbatim Theatre can be tricky to pull off – you’re at the mercy of your source material – but Committee… (A New Musical) brings the transcript to life with Tom Deering’s score adding even more weight and drama. What seemed like a throwaway line in the news coverage is given more heft and importance in the musical.
Sandra Marvin as Camila Batmanghelidjh
Anyone aware of the story of Kids Company will have an opinion on its Chief Executive and Founder Camila Batmanghelidjh but Sandra Marvin’s deft portrayal forces you to re-examine your first preconceptions (positive or negative). Caring, unprepared, an expert, Camila is at times all these things in the committee room and Sandra is able to turn your opinions round with breakneck speed.
The Committee
The Committee is formed of MPs Paul Flynn (Anthony O’Donnell),Cheryl Gillan (Liz Robertson), Kate Hoey (Rosemary Ashe), Bernard Jenkin (Alexander Hanson) and David Jones (Robert Hands), juggling their responsibilities to their constituents and their desire to make the 08:10 interview on the Today programme. The committee obviously has good intentions but you are never quite sure who they are trying to please. Is the hearing a quest for the truth, or is it to satisfy our need for ending to this thorny story?
Book your tickets for Committee… (A New Musical) at the Donmar Warehouse Website.
All photos by Manuel Harlan.