A trip to the theatre is always exciting. But Ben Elton’s latest masterpiece has piqued the interest of fans looking for a nostalgic journey back to the 60s and 70s. At a time when the Beatles were dominating the charts and flares were all the rage, a skinny girl from Neasden was about to become one of the biggest icons of the 20th century. Let’s find out more about Close Up - The Twiggy Musical which will run for a limited two-month period at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory.
The Face of the 60s
She was just a teenager from Neasden when a photograph of her newly cropped hair catapulted her into a world of glamour and celebrity. According to Twiggy herself, “It happened almost overnight. One day I was an ordinary schoolgirl and the next I was ‘the face of 1966.’” She continued, “It was madness, but wonderful.” The Twiggy Musical – which is expected to attract audiences looking for a touch of nostalgia in this fast-paced modern world – documents this rise to fame and promises to be a joyful, uplifting and powerful musical.
From London to Hollywood
Twiggy, the musical, was written and directed by Ben Elton and is the story of a young, working class woman who faced snobbery and sexism in a pre-Me Too world. She nevertheless achieved her dreams without ever compromising her personality or style. The musical tracks Twiggy’s journey from the suburbs of London to the fashion capitals of the world. It talks about her Hollywood and Broadway career and how she ultimately became a national treasure and Dame of the Realm.
The musical is accompanied by a fabulous score featuring the hits that were the soundtrack to Twiggy’s life. The main role of Twiggy will be played by Elena Skye who recently starred as Scaramouche in the hugely successful musical, We Will Rock You, at the London Coliseum.
A Period of Change
Speaking about the era in which Twiggy rose to fame, creator Ben Elton said, “There was a lot more [to Twiggy’s story] besides the fabulous glamour and ‘pizzazz’ of the 60s, and the Cinderella story of a single haircut that made a 16-year-old from Neasden the most famous teenager in the world.” The period “felt like a time of endless possibilities, a different Britain, when for a brief shining moment, working-class people really had their shot, from the Beatles for about 10 years onwards. It was very cool, very fashionable and almost imperative to be working-class, and those that weren’t pretended they were. It was a period when social mobility exploded.”
For the chance to see this fabulous show, book your tickets to the Close Up - The Twiggy Musical today. It’s sure to be a feel-good day out to remember.
