News

By Karol Steele

A gritty new musical about homeless teens in London found a new home in the Roundhouse Theatre on Friday.

After just five days of intensive workshop rehearsals, youngsters of the Blackfish Academy staged 'Runaways' by Liz Houghton.

Described as "Oliver Twist for the 21st century, replacing street urchins, pick-pockets and doss-houses with drug dealers, pimps and cardboard boxes" by the musical genius behind the show, Derrick Sewell, 'Runaways' tells the story of 11 teens living in London's 'cardboard city' under Waterloo Bridge.

The show opens with spoilt rich-kid, Danielle, arriving in 'The Land of Boxes' (Cardboard City) to be instantly preyed upon by the sleazy pimp, Rocco, who recruits her into his group of hookers by persuading her to become his 'girlfriend'.

As the show progresses, and Danielle sinks slowly into the seedy underworld of London, we meet many different characters with their own sad stories to tell, including Ellie and Jodie, who ran away from abusive parents, and we witness the callous shooting of a drugs dealer by his suppliers.

Strong solo numbers included those performed by Ben Steele (Rocco) singing 'I'm Here to Stay', Bridie Douglas (Jodie) singing 'The Fix', and Abi Orfilla (Ellie) singing 'Sitting on a Crescent Moon'

Blackfish Academy's next show will be the pantomime, Cinderella, to be performed at the Roundhouse at the beginning of December.