News

Backbeat Debuts At The Citizens Theatre Glasgow

• 2nd Nov 2009

“He had to choose between his best friend, the woman he loved and the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world.”

Iain Softley, writer and director of Backbeat the film, directs the stage adaptation.

Backbeat, the adaptation of one of the UK’s best-loved British films, will have its world premiere at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow in February 2010. This exciting new stage play is written by Iain Softley with Stephen Jeffreys and directed by Iain Softley, the writer and director of the 1994 award-winning film Backbeat.

Backbeat is produced by Karl Sydow, whose recent production credits include Ring Round the Moon, Dance of Death, Sinatra and Tony-nominated Our Country’s Good.

Backbeat tells the little known story of ‘the Hamburg Years’, of what was to become the most successful band in modern times, The Beatles. But what made this film so compelling was that The Beatles provided the subplot for the main story, a fascinating triangular relationship between Stu Sutcliffe, the band’s original bassist, John Lennon, his best friend, and Astrid Kirchherr, the stunning German photographer who Stu fell passionately in love with. It was Stu’s struggle between Lennon and music, and Astrid and art, that makes Stu the troubled focus of Backbeat. Stu’s tragic death aged 22 in the year before Beatlemania took hold, adds to the poignancy of this remarkable and vivid portrait of the 1960’s.

Iain Softley said:

“When I was making the film, I was also visualising a theatre production of Backbeat, where Stu’s dramatic paintings and Astrid’s stunning photography could be woven into the narrative along with great live music. I am so delighted that, after all these years, we can bring Backbeat to the theatre, and to debut in Scotland where Stu was born.”

Karl Sydow, producer, said:

“ Iain and I have been talking about bringing Backbeat to the stage for some time, and it was very interesting to see that a lot of the recent media coverage about the Beatles has focussed on the early Hamburg days. Fans should be reassured that the adaptation to the stage will remain true to the film, but we will take full advantage of the possibilities that live performance can bring to a story that features a band, a painter and a photographer. “

“We’re so pleased to be working with the much respected Citizens theatre in Glasgow, world renowned for its creative programming including supporting new works.”

Jeremy Raison and Guy Hollands, Artistic Directors of the Citizens Theatre said:

“We are delighted to be opening the stage version of Backbeat. It is fitting that a play about such an iconic band will open in one of the most iconic theatres in the UK. With live music and a fascinating story, the show promises to be a great night out. We hope this will be just the start of the international success of Backbeat.’