Flashdance - The Musical
A tightly organised and spectacular affair, and with the entire troupe of dancers hardly putting a foot wrong, and the singers hitting all the right notes
Norwich's Threshold Theatre Company turned the clock back to 1984 this week for their high-energy musical dance production of Flashdance – The Musical, the story of 18 year old Alex Owens who works by day as a welder at a Pittsburgh steel mill, but dreams of becoming a ballerina. In the meantime, she supplements her income by dancing at Harry's, a local cabaret bar and diner, whilst saving up and hoping to earn a place at ballet school.
The show is a significant challenge for any amateur theatre group, but Threshold, created in 1995 as an offshoot from long-established Norfolk and Norwich Operatic Society, has never shied away from a challenge. From their first production of West Side Story in 1995 to last year's Annie, the company has consistently delivered high-standard musical performances. This version of Flashdance – The Musical is no exception.
Taking on the role first made famous in the film by leg-warmer wearing Jennifer Beals is Sophie Chapman, who absolutely nails it as Alex Owens, and who is supported by a talented cast of fellow performers and dancers. The six piece live band, who perform from behind a wire partition at the back of the stage, recreate the musical energy of the 1980's disco era, including the original film’s two iconic dance numbers - 'Flashdance... What A Feeling' and 'Maniac', as well as covering classic 80’s rock music timepieces like Joan Jett and The Blackhearts' 'I Love Rock & Roll', and Laura Branigan's 1982 hit, 'Gloria'.
The stage set is certainly industrial in design and feel, but it doubles up perfectly as steel-mill by day and cabaret bar by night. And, with some clever lighting, it also provides the more intimate domestic backdrop to the touching scenes involving Alex, her elderly mentor Hannah (Rowena Croston-Clegg), and carer Louise (Rachael Braxton-Osborn). But it is the relentless energy of the dance numbers, the disco beat and the songs that the show really revolves around. With a cast of almost twenty, all on stage together for some of the dance routines, choreographer Daniel Waite and director Carmel Hannant have done a fantastic job in making this show such a tightly organised and spectacular affair, and with the entire troupe of dancers hardly putting a foot wrong, and the singers hitting all the right notes.
Zac Sowter is the perfect partner to Alex as mill owner's son Nick Hurley, a switch from the original film version in which she attracted the attentions of his much older father. This new dynamic makes the relationship between the pair appear much less creepy, and more appropriate to a 2026 audience. The musical duets provide the romance, the dancers provide the spectacle, and the band deliver the authentic period soundtrack. This is a show that will be adored by those who saw the film version when it was first released forty two years ago as much as it will be by those who were not even around in the Eighties. The passion, the fashion, and the attitude - they are all revived, recreated, present and on display in this spectacular musical production. We are even treated to a watery re-creation of the film's iconic wet-chair dance scene, just before we head to the interval at the end of Act One.
Threshold have done it again – yet another musical feast from this talent-filled local theatre company. If you are lucky enough to get a ticket, the show runs at Norwich Theatre Playhouse until Sunday. If not, then put the dates in your diary for Threshold's sister company, Sound Ideas, whose musical comedy production of The Addams Family, is coming to Norwich Theatre Playhouse from September 30th – October 4th.
