Set in Second World War period Italy, this musical tells the true story of Gino Bartali, Tour de France winning cyclist and member of the Italian resistance, who helped save many Jewish children from both Mussolini’s blackshirts and the invading Nazis by ferrying forged passports hidden inside the frame of his bicycle.
The story was uplifting. There was peril and romance and some moments of comedy. The music and voices were excellent. The stage set was simple but clever, and there was some very good use of lighting.
The theatre is small, and was only half filled on the day I went, which was a shame. Access to the stalls is down a couple of flights of stairs, and the rake is stepped up from the stalls entrance, so not a lot of fun for those with impaired mobility. To get my customary interval ice cream, I would have had to negotiate all those stairs twice. I chose not to in this case. Toilets are down still more steps from the auditorium, so it might be best not to drink too much. There is very limited space on a tiny balcony for anyone who absolutely needs level access, but otherwise this theatre isn’t very accessible.
The theatre is under the Charing Cross arches, off Villiers street, so transport links are good. I decided to avoid crowded tube trains and instead made my way home on the river bus from Embankment Pier. This isn’t the cheapest way to travel, but it is far more enjoyable than a rush-hour bus or train. The only downside, if like me you find uphill walking difficult, is the long drag up the gangway from the boat to the pier at your destination. Piers are often quite far from other transport links, and you often have to walk slightly uphill from the river bank to anywhere, so it’s worth taking that into account as well.
musings 