![\"Nicola](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Nicola-Bryan-Claire-Lee-Shenfield-Emily-Reynolds-350.jpg\")
Nicola Bryan, Claire Lee Shenfield, Emily Reynolds in Caroline: A New Musical. Credit: Will Green Photography<\/p>\nCaroline: A New Musical is more than well worth travelling miles to see! I know as I came from deepest East Sussex and do not regret one moment of that time spent on road, rail, underground, rail and overground, then on foot to get to one of my favourite theatres, Queen\u2019s, Hornchurch. Vikki Stone\u2019s superb \u2018juke box\u2019 musical has been developed as part of the National Theatre\u2019s \u2018Generate\u2019 project and is being staged by the East Anglian Touring Consortium, a group of producing theatre companies which have combined to produce work which would be financially impossible otherwise.<\/p>\n
Nicola Bryan, Claire Lee Shenfield, Emily Reynolds in Caroline: A New Musical. Credit: Will Green Photography<\/p>\n
The result is one of the most enchanting, entertaining, uplifting shows I have seen for a long time \u2013 and it is British, and not adapted from a play, movie or biography but lovingly put together by Vikki Stone who has clearly researched her subject in depth to produce a book which is intelligent, witty, gives the protagonists real motivation and tells the story clearly so that the audience feels totally involved, as was obvious from the performance I attended.<\/p>\n
Caroline is the almost true story of the first pirate commercial radio station which broadcast from a Dutch ship just outside British territorial waters between 1964 and 1967, when it was put out of action by Postmasters General Tony Benn and Edward Short.<\/p>\n
Robbie, unemployed, manages to land a \u2018D J\u2019 job with the new Radio Caroline thanks to his fianc\u00e9e Caroline whose world is small but full of dreams she shares with her friend Mary. Robbie quickly becomes absorbed in his job on board ship anchored off Harwich, rarely seeing Caroline, being hailed as a national icon when listening figures spiral into the millions. Meanwhile, the station\u2019s founders, Kitty and Declan, do battle with the British Government to keep Radio Caroline on air.<\/p>\n
The show is packed with 60s iconic hits \u2013 the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks and Lulu all being represented: my partner knew every one of them, as will you if you are lucky enough to see Caroline. (My advice: stop reading this and book now!) In addition, many of the advertising jingles that were used have been found and are used, which adds to the believability of the show. All are well, often inventively, chosen and are performed by a highly talented ensemble of actor\/musicians, as has been the style of musical shows at Hornchurch since the days of Bob Carlton. The result is vibrant, rebellious and heart-warming!<\/p>\n
Jake Halsey-Jones almost steals the show as DJ Robbie, being the epitome of 1960s youth, as well as being no mean dancer, guitarist, singer and actor. He has a charisma that develops slowly during the show, and it is difficult to imagine this role being portrayed more successfully. Claire Lee Shenfield is Caroline herself, displaying a true sense of style and her friend Mary is Eloise Richardson. Joey Hickman makes a suitably \u2018spivvy\u2019 Declan, the founder of the station and Kitty, every inch a 1960s businesswoman is Rhiannon Hopkins, also a superbly stylish keyboard player. Gareth Cooper is most amusing as Postmaster General, as well as displaying excellent drumkit skills and Jerome Lincoln very \u2018po-faced\u2019 as his Private Secretary.<\/p>\n
Helen Atkinson has produced a very clear sound design, stylishly period costumes and set are by Stella Backman and Callum Macdonald\u2019s lighting is imaginative but never obtrusive. Paul Schofield, the musical supervisor, has orchestrated the musical numbers not just for guitars but also for trumpet, trombone and saxophone \u2013 though how the cast are able to dance at the same time as singing and dancing is beyond my comprehension, especially as it is all done effortlessly and with obvious enjoyment.<\/p>\n
Caroline celebrates the spirit of the era: youthful defiance, cultural change and the fight for new voices on the airwaves. As we left the theatre \u2013 which, by the way, has the friendliest and most helpful front of house staff one could possibly come across \u2013 we were saying that seeing a show like Caroline leaves you feeling uplifted, as well as singing the songs. With luck, by now you will have realised that I truly enjoyed this show\u00a0very\u00a0much! It is only at Queen\u2019s Hornchurch until 16 May, after which it tours to Peterborough, Colchester and Bury St Edmunds. Directors Douglas Rintoul and Alex Thorpe plus everyone involved should feel justly elated with the undoubted success of this production. Surely a producer must pick Caroline up and tour it elsewhere?! Many\u00a0congratulations\u00a0to all concerned \u2013 I should love to see it again! Very highly recommended!<\/p>\n
![\"5](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5-star.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Review by John Groves<\/p>\n
Caroline dreams of something more than stacking shelves at the local greengrocers. Her days are routine, but her nights come alive, walking the pier, sharing laughs with her best friend Mary, and spinning records with Robbie, her music-mad boyfriend who\u2019s big on charm but short on direction.<\/p>\n
But a music revolution is coming, and Robbie lands a shock gig with Radio Caroline\u2014the pirate radio station blasting pop, soul and rock \u2019n\u2019 roll from a ship off the Essex coast and suddenly everything changes. Caroline is swept into a tidal wave of music, mayhem and a movement that would shake up British culture forever.<\/p>\n
Set to a soundtrack of iconic hits from the 60\u2019s, Caroline is a vibrant, heart-warming and rebellious new musical about love, ambition and discovering your own voice.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s not a DJ. She\u2019s not a rock star. But in the middle of Britain\u2019s radio revolution, Caroline might just steal the show.<\/p>\n
CAST
Nicola Bryan \u2013 Betty
Gareth Cooper \u2013 Postmaster General
Jake Halsey-Jones \u2013 Robbie
Joey Hickman \u2013 Declan
Rhiannon Hopkins \u2013 Kitty
James Lawrence \u2013 Steven
Claire Lee Shenfield \u2013 Caroline
Jerome Lincoln \u2013 Private Secretary
Perry Meadowcroft \u2013 Dave the Fish
Eloise Richardson \u2013 Mary<\/p>\n
CREATIVES
Sound Designer \u2013 Helen Atkinson
Set & Costume Designer \u2013 Stella Backman
Dramaturg \u2013 Titilola Dawudu
Voice Coach \u2013 Charmian Hoare
Fight & Intimacy Director \u2013 Haruka Kuroda
Lighting Designer \u2013 Callum Macdonald
Director \u2013 Douglas Rintoul
Choreographer \u2013 Sundeep Saini
Musical Supervisor \u2013 Paul Schofield
Writer \u2013 Vikki Stone
Co-Director \u2013 Alex Thorpe<\/p>\n
CAROLINE: A NEW MUSICAL John Groves studied singing with Robert Easton and conducting with Clive Timms. He was lucky enough to act in the British premiere of a Strindberg play at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe more years ago than he cares to remember, as well as singing at the Royal Opera House – once!
Queen\u2019s Theatre Hornchurch<\/a>, 6 to 16 May 2026
New Theatre Peterborough<\/a>, 19 to 23 May 2026
Mercury Theatre Colchester<\/a>, 3 to 13 June 2026
Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds<\/a>, 16 to 20 June 2026<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/John-Groves.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
He taught drama and music at several schools, as well as examining the practical aspects of GCSE and A level drama for many years. For twenty five years he has conducted a brass band as well as living on one of the highest points of East Sussex surrounded by woodland, deer, foxes and badgers, with kites and buzzards flying overhead.<\/p>\n