Review: TIM RICE: MY LIFE IN MUSICALS, Liverpool Playhouse

Currently on tour across the UK, Tim Rice: My Life In Musicals is two hours of musical theatre bliss that you will never forget.

Opening with the famous melodies of "Prologue" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - the show that started it all for Sir Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber - audiences are treated to a sensational performance of not just one, not two, but three songs from the beloved musical, including "Any Dream Will Do." It left me cheering for more.

It is a brilliant opening to a show that cleverly interweaves tales from Rice’s career, with the songs we know and love - along with treating the audience to songs you may not have heard before.

As soon as Rice arrives onstage, he begins to share tales from his career with passion and humour. He takes the audience on a journey from working in an office and sending tapes of his songs to record companies, to his first meeting with Lloyd Webber. From there you journey through the creation of musicals like Evita, to working on Disney films with musicians such as Elton John and learning all about the timeless music that generations of fans - including myself - love.

The show moves seamlessly between stories about Rice’s career and songs from musicals such as Aida, along with songs he co-wrote for artists such as Elvis. From writing the lyrics to David Essex hit "A Winter’s Tale" with Mike Batt, to working on the theme for James Bond film Octopussy, you learn so much about Rice's career and with every story, you are inspired and left in awe.

I won’t spoil the show by revealing all the stories Rice shared however, as this is a show that you need to see for yourselves. It is incredible.

Interwoven into the story of Rice’s career are the songs that he is famous for, performed by a brilliant quartet - John Addison, Katie Birtill, Shonagh Daly and Sandy Grigelis.

Addison and Grigelis’ moving rendition of "A Winter’s Tale" left tears rolling down my face, while Daly and Birtill’s duet of "I Know Him So Well", from the musical Chess, was phenomenal. Each harmony flowed beautifully into the next and you could see how much love the performers have for these songs.

Their energy and enthusiasm could be felt in every performance. This was my first time hearing Addison, Daly, Birtill and Grigelis perform live, but I can definitely say they are now some of my favourite musical theatre performers and I hope to see them again in more shows in the future. They are musical theatre perfection.

Accompanied by a brilliant band featuring talented musicians Tim Maple, Rob Waugh, Harrison Wood and Musical Director Duncan Waugh, the songs and Rice’s stories made this a show I will never forget.

Tim Rice: My Life In Musicals is an unmissable production that you will want to see again - and a production that will live in your heart, much like Sir Tim Rice’s legendary music and lyrics - forever.

Tim Rice: My Life In Musicals is on tour across the UK until Wednesday 15 May.

Photo credit: Nicky Johnston

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