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Backbeat
Citizens Company
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The world premiere of an exciting new stage version of one of the UK’s best-loved cult British films.
“He had to choose between his best friends, the woman he loved and the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world”
Backbeat is the story of the fifth Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe (the band’s original bassist), and the two most important people in his life: John Lennon and Astrid Kirchherr.
Re-imagined for the stage by the original writer and director of the acclaimed 1994 film, Iain Softley. This new production of Backbeat is a passionate and vivid portrayal of a love story born out of the famous summer when The Beatles made their name in the city of Hamburg.
Inseparable friends, John and Stuart, become entwined in a fiery triangular relationship as Stuart falls madly in love with Astrid. John forces Stuart to choose between his deep loyalty for John, a future with the greatest band in history or following his heart and pursuing a life as an artist with the woman of his dreams.
Receiving its world premiere here at the Citizens, this is an unmissable opportunity to see a play with live music about the early years of one of the most iconic bands in history.
Cast includes: Isabella Calthorpe, Andrew Knott and Alex Robertson. For full cast list, production credits and biogs click here.
Recommended for 15+ due to strong language and adult content.
Based on the Universal Pictures film
Writer Iain Softley with Stephen Jeffreys
Director Iain Softley
Producer Karl Sydow
- 9 Feb 2010 to 6 Mar 2010
- View all dates
- 2010-02-09 07:30 PM 2010-02-10 07:30 PM 2010-02-11 07:30 PM 2010-02-12 07:30 PM 2010-02-13 07:30 PM 2010-02-15 07:30 PM 2010-02-16 07:30 PM 2010-02-17 07:30 PM 2010-02-18 07:30 PM 2010-02-19 07:30 PM 2010-02-20 02:30PM 2010-02-20 07:30 PM 2010-02-22 07:30 PM 2010-02-23 07:30 PM 2010-02-24 07:30 PM 2010-02-25 07:30 PM 2010-02-26 07:30 PM 2010-02-27 02:30 PM 2010-02-27 07:30 PM 2010-03-01 07:30 PM 2010-03-02 07:30 PM 2010-03-03 07:30 PM 2010-03-04 07:30 PM 2010-03-05 07:30 PM 2010-03-06 02:30 PM 2010-03-06 07:30 PM Please note this includes Monday performances
Dates
Main Theatre
Running Time
2hrs 35mins
User Rating ★★★★★
Rated: (5/5), based on 43 reviews
Previews 09.02.10, 10.02.10 & 11.02.10
Audio Described 18.02.10
Signed 25.02.10
Captioned 24.02.10
Wheelchair Access
Guide Dogs welcome
Induction Loop
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN ARCHIVE ENTRY. THIS SHOW IS NO LONGER ON SALE.
Watch more videos on YouTube
Click play to see slideshow. See more photos on Flickr.
Read Backbeat blog posts.
Comments
Paddyghirl ★★★★★
25th February 2010
I seen the play on the 12th February with my friends and had a great night. So much so that I took my husband last night and I think I may have converted him to a Beatles fan at long last! The cast were superb with special mentions to John Lennon (the dreamy Andrew Knott) and George Harrison! Thanks also to the Citizens staff who as always provided a top class service. I may even go back again before the last show! Well done everyone xx
Olly ★★★★★
24th February 2010
Went to see it on Monday and I really enjoyed it! Love the beatles and love how they're still living on to our generation! Though the hottest guy in it was the upstairs usher! hahah
john forrest ★★★★★
23rd February 2010
Brilliant !
Lynn Scott ★★★★★
22nd February 2010
Hello again - Tried to get tickets for final evening performance, unfortunately all booked up. Boo hoo, told you tears would be shed!
Anyway still a happy girl as got great seats for the final matinee performance right there in the front row. Really looking forward to seeing it again so c'mon all you peeps out there, give yourself a treat and book yourself in for this abfab show It is going to be big and you will soooooo regret not seeing it in fabulous Glasgow first!!!
PS - star rating seriously off the board 
Lynn
lynn scott ★★★★★
21st February 2010
Wow! Wow! Wow! We went to see the show last night and I just had to let you know how fantastic we thought it was. I was totally enthralled from start to finish. The cast were truly brilliant and the whole production was, quite simply, so very well done. Suffice to say that I have been raving so much about it to my friends that I am now in the process of booking another date.....just for us girlies this time! Hope I can get enough tickets....or there will be tears shed. Well done again!!! Lynn
billy scott ★★★★★
21st February 2010
A truly first class production, the two hours just flew by and we were left wanting more!! If Stu Sutcliffe is looking down on this, I'm sure he'll think "Be Bop A Lula!"
Jack Bruce ★★★★★
19th February 2010
Fantastic night! Everything about it acting, music, sets, and lighting were first class. The band were how I would have imagined the Beatles to be circa 1960 i.e. Young, Savage and in your face. This is no Beatles Tribute Band, this is the Real Deal. Andrew Knott is a great John Lennon (already showing signs of Hamburg Throat), Daniel Healy (Paul McCartney) is obviously the musician of the band with great vocals which McCartney would be proud of, Oliver Bennett could show Pete Best a thing or three, Alex Robertson as Stuart Sutcliffe is suitably filthy on the Bass, Jamie Blackley as George Harrison isn’t quite the master of the pentatonic but rocks none the less. If we can get a ticket we’ll be back. Well done the Citz.
jaynec ★★★★★
19th February 2010
There are few occasions I can count when I have come out of a theatre wanting to start from the beginning and see it all again. Such a load of skills and talents all bought together - Almost not a play but an experience of all the arts... great writing, acting, music, singing, poetry, painting and the powerful sculpture of the steel wall sets. Hugely ambitious and the first 30 minutes are a bit jerky ... but what an achievement...Enjoyed dancing at the end and discussing it later (5 of us) we felt that this was a celebration of Stuart's life and of course the birth of the beatles! Congratulations to all and we've rebooked tickets.
Mary Clark ★★★★★
19th February 2010
I went to see this show last night with my sister, who is visiting from Holland. We went on a journey from Liverpool to Hamburg which was full of energy, atmosphere, humour and tragedy. The young cast really took us with them and even had us all dancing at the end. The audience last night ranged from young kids & teenagers to middle-agers and even an oldie with a zimmer. The whole production from the lighting, sound, acting and music was superb. I want to see it again. Special mention for Jamie Blackley who played George, he was so cute and got it just right!
Carolynne ★★★★★
19th February 2010
Went to see the show last night and it was excellent. Backbeat is one of my favourite films and they definitely did it proud. I would gladly pay a lot more to go see it again and again.
Cameron Munro ★★★★★
19th February 2010
Attended last night Thursday 18th February with Yanoula my youngest. Sensational show. The actors were superb and had real truth in what they did. Isabella Calthorpe was truly sensational as Astrid. Apart from the obvious Beatles element, the play was really gripping and I hope it runs elesewhere.
Lee-Anne ★★★★★
18th February 2010
What an AWESOME night - Backbeat was truly something magical!
Definitely proud to have been able to see this during its time up in Glasgow, if I had to describe it in one word I would be struggling because mesmerising, awesomes, fantastic, delightful, energetic, brilliant, exuberant, amusing & melodic all spring to mind at once.
I’ve been talking about it all week, telling everyone they NEED to go and see it before it leaves the Citz!
Amazing show! Wonderful cast and the best of all – the staff are simply AWESOME! 
michael watters ★★★★★
16th February 2010
Great cast.great production. Saw it first night. Loved it
JON WATTERS ★★★★★
16th February 2010
A fantastic show. I still have a buzz over a week after I saw the show. Andrew Knott who plays John is the standout actor but all of them deserve praise.
Robert McAulay ★★★★★
16th February 2010
Saw this fantasitic performance on Monday 16th February. Quite simply, the best two hours of theatre I've seen in a long long time. The cast are superb and Mr Lennon, in his own inimitable style, gets all the best lines. As a Glaswegian I'd like to keep Backbeat all to myself and the rest of the city, but this show deserves to be in London's West-end. My son is just discovering the Beatles and was totally enthralled by the production, the singing and the touching storyline. Do yourself a favour, and get along to the Citizen's to see Backbeat before it becomes 'bigger than Jesus Christ!' Robert Mcaulay, reporter, The Sun.
rosemary paton ★★★★★
15th February 2010
Cant wait to see the show,cant go until the last week, am a BIG fan of the fab four, and this sounds very exciting!!
Jim Watson ★★★★★
14th February 2010
What a great night. I'm a Beatles fan and would suggest this show to all music and theatre lovers. The music is raw, vibrant and gives the audience an inkling of what it must have been like in the early 1960s.
Ellie ★★★★★
14th February 2010
Really well produced piece of theatre, me and my parents absolutely loved it last night. I would love to go and see it again before they leave Glasgow. The music and acting was superb. And a special well done to the young man playing George Harrison! I thought he captured his character very well indeed. Excellent play - I haven't seen the film, but I'm not sure anything could top the stage version of this.
Chris Holt ★★★★★
14th February 2010
Although it captured the energy and scene from the early Beatles years, the music was just not as tight as I'd anticipated. I understand that these guys are actors not musicians, but I think they would've benefited from more rehearsal time to really make them seem like a band. Lots of people will like this show - but being a musician, I won't be recommending it.
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Brenda ★★★★★
26th February 2010
Wow! Super acting, very good use of theatre technique. And actors who can play and sing as well as act. Wonderful! I am now trying to get hold of the film version which I missed at the time. I thought about this show so many times in the following week. Isabella looked very elegant in her many subtle costume changes.