The Great British Bake Off Musical Review

★★★★★

Reviewer - Eliott

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.

When a much-loved TV programme gets the theatre treatment, there will always be some hesitation with its outcome. With a show like The Great British Bake Off, it took almost nine years of constant rejections from TV commissioners before the newest commissioner of BBC 2, Janice Hadlow, picked up the rather unusual concept in 2009, and the rest, they say, is history.

When commissioned to write this musical adaption in June 2020, the TV Show was hitting viewing figures of up to 12 Million, so the pressure for Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary to condense a whole TV Series into a 2 Hour 30 Minute production was incredibly high, but unlike the years of hardship for the TV commission, I do not think any hesitation for the stage adaptation is necessary; Audiences here will be able to relax and be whisked away in a journey of friendship and the passion for baking, due to the careful consideration for the contestants mixed personalities on stage.

Something that has stood out in recent years is the uplifting nature of ensemble companies; shows like Come From Away and Once are prime examples of those that inspire and gather momentum from the company onstage clearly having a jubilant time, and Bake Off is no exception. Scott Paige and Zoe Birkett lead the ensemble as Presenters Jim and Kim, whose energy is eccentric yet grounded, and just like the TV show, they really get stuck into the action and become the perfect theatrical device to allow us to get equal measures into every contestant, and not forgetting, the formidable Pam Lee and Phil Hollinghurst, played with defiance from Haydn Gwynne and John Owen-Jones. Of course, the names are not so far away from the familiarity of the televised programme, and neither are their personalities, with some real friendship shining through their chemistry on stage, plus with one of the standout numbers of the show, ‘I’d Never Be Me Without You’, it would be hard not to find such comfort from watching these two on stage.

The most important ingredient about Bake Off though is the contestants, and what Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary have done here is nothing shy of remarkable. From Blackpool Carer Gemma (Charlotte Wakefield) to Doting Grandmother Babs (Claire Moore), Cambridge University Student Izzy (Grace Mouat) to Environmental Socialist Dezza (Jay Saighal), the mixture of those hoping to lift the cake stand trophy at the end of their time in the tent is expansive, with a contestant for everyone to enjoy.

There are moments of pure heart in the production too, with numbers such as ‘Grow’, so elegantly sung by Italian Fashionista and Primary School Teacher Francesca (Cat Sandison), that will leave you with misty eyes and a lump in your throat, whilst Policeman Ben (Damian Humbley) has an arc that sees the biggest departure from the TV series in this theatrical production, with an inclusion of his daughter Lily, portrayed by three different child actors during the run. Michael Cahill and Aharon Rayner, making their West End Debut in Bake Off, complete the contestants as Russell and Hassan, and are strong additions to the cast. It’s also a welcomed experience to have on stage swings to help lift some of the numbers too, with the opening songs to both acts, and a rather beautiful scene depicting a Parisian restaurant, moments that excel with their presence.

Rachel Kavanaugh’s direction has full heart, and her control of the swift movements between each performer in the tent, when you have to battle eight moveable kitchenettes, should not be undermined. Georgina Lamb’s choreography brings motifs that would make any home baker excited; from dough-slapping dance breaks to baking dance battles, it’s easy to see why the cast seems to have such endless fun when they are bringing to life Lamb’s choreographic visions. With the focus on the tent itself, Alice Power brings the now infamous structure to The Noël Coward with such wonder, on top of the Cake structures which are artistically pleasing, and costume which grounds every character and enhances their personalities. When the production departs from the tent, Ben Cracknell’s Lighting and George Reeve’s Video Design transport us to locations in the baker’s dreams and reminiscence; a scene that tackles the question of being British is tenderly lit with subtle background fading that warms the heart, while projections not too dissimilar to those of the TV show continue to make audiences feel like they're watching the show they know and love.

To quote a line from the climax of the show, being on Bake Off ‘is not to succeed, but to share, to go on a journey, together’ and from now until 13th May 2023, The Noël Coward Theatre invites audiences to go on this journey with the bakers, the presenters, and the hosts, and experience this almost lost season of the TV series, right in front of our eyes, and welcome them with a full embrace.

Book your tickets for The Bake Off Musical now!