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TADLOP (Telford and District Light Operatic Players) produce two musicals annually with a cast of passionate amateurs. The production team and management committee are all local volunteers. The team behind Jekyll & Hyde includes Director Sammi McSporran, Musical Director Amy Minshall, Choreographer Lucy Warrilow and Stage Manager Caitlin Haq.

Four public performances will be staged at Telford Theatre:

7:30pm Thursday 19th October
7:30pm on Friday 20th October
2:30pm and 7:30pm, Saturday 21st October

There is also a matinee performance at 2:30pm on Friday 20th October aimed at secondary school pupils, as Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a GCSE English Literature syllabus text. In the words of Director Sammi McSporran:

“I believe this is the first time TADLOP has offered a schools-only performance of one of our shows, and we have been thrilled with the response from local schools. We are so excited to offer this extra show exclusively for students as a link to the GCSE English Literature curricu-lum where Jekyll & Hyde is a studied text. While the show deviates somewhat from the novella, its themes are the same and we hope this performance will aid with giving context and under-standing to the text, and inspire young people to take interest in classic literature as well as local theatre.”

Inquiries from schools for pupils to attend this performance can be directed to tickets@tadlop.com.

Jekyll & Hyde is a 1990 musical adapted from the 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. The musical was composed by Frank Wildhorn with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and has received several Broadway productions and national tours. It has become one of the most popular adaptations of the classic story of an ambitious doctor his disastrous experiment to separate the evil of mankind from the good. In the words of Choreographer Lucy Warrilow;:

“The music carries the audience through moments of intense joy and sorrow, as the cast mange speedy tempo and style changes to hammer home the battle between good and evil.”

(Left: Nat Hodgkiss as Edward Hyde, Right: Reiss McSporran as Henry Jekyll)​ 

The costume aesthetic of the show is in a steampunk style. In the words of Director Sammi McSporran:

Jekyll & Hyde is a classic example of the Victorian sci-fi genre, and steampunk is a fun aesthetic offshoot from that. I wanted to lean into this alternative vibe to allow the cast to play with costume and character creation without the rigidity of pure Victorian historical accuracy. Steampunk also has a great local link, celebrating the industrial roots of nearby Ironbridge, which plays host to a number of Steam events throughout the year - some of which we had the privilege of attending as a cast and making some great connections with steampunk enthusiasts!”

The cast of Jekyll & Hyde are led by Reiss McSporran as the daring scientist Dr Henry Jekyll and Nat Hodgkiss as his monstrous alter-ego Mr Edward Hyde. While productions typically cast one actor as both personae, TADLOP’s production team have chosen to cast two actors to play against each other and physically embody the titular Doctor’s internal conflict.

Supporting Reiss and Nat are a cast of thirty including a backing choir. Other principal characters include Jessica Hodgkiss as Jekyll’s compassionate fiancée Emma Carew, Andrew Murray as Emma’s earnest father Sir Danvers Carew, Hannah Lister as vivacious dancer Lucy Harris, Jamie Graham as Emma’s jealous admirer Simon Stride, and Kerry Kemp as Jekyll’s steadfast confidante John Utterson. 

(Left to Right: Kerry Kemp, Hannah Lister, Jessica Hodgkiss, Reiss McSporran, Nat Hodgkiss, Andrew Murrary)
 
Jekyll & Hyde will be TADLOP’s last production staged at Telford Theatre before the theatre’s upcoming refurbishment. TADLOP have been performing on the Oakengates stage since 1972. This is also the last show rehearsed at Hadley Methodist Church, which is changing ownership. With these two changes of home venue, Jekyll and Hyde will be the end of a long era for TADLOP.

TADLOP will be performing their next musical “Our House” (based on the music of Madness) at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.

TADLOP are a registered Charity (701613) founded in 1972
Website: www.tadlop.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TADLOP
Box office: https://www.telfordtheatre.com/whats-on/musicals/jekyll-and-hyde/4933/#
Ticket inquiries: tickets@tadlop.com
Membership inquiries: members@tadlop.com
General inquiries: info@tadlop.com