Been So Long
Encyclopedia
Been So Long is a soul/funk musical
with music and lyrics by Arthur Darvill
and book by Ché Walker
. The musical is based on the 1998 play of the same name.
Been So Long premiered at the Young Vic on July 11, 2009 and then transferred to Traverse Theatre
in Edinburgh on August 7, 2009 as part of the Edinburgh Festival
. A live cast recording was also made of the production.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with music and lyrics by Arthur Darvill
Arthur Darvill
Thomas Arthur Darvill is an English actor, known professionally as Arthur Darvill. He is noted for his work in the plays Terre Haute and Swimming with Sharks , but is probably best known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor's Companion Rory Williams in the television series Doctor Who.-Early and...
and book by Ché Walker
Ché Walker
Ché Walker is an English actor, playwright, theatre director and teacher at the Identity Drama School.Walker lives in Camden in London and his play The Frontline deals with street life outside Camden Town tube station....
. The musical is based on the 1998 play of the same name.
Been So Long premiered at the Young Vic on July 11, 2009 and then transferred to Traverse Theatre
Traverse Theatre
The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963.The Traverse Theatre commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary playwrights. It also presents a large number of productions from visiting companies from across the UK. These include new plays,...
in Edinburgh on August 7, 2009 as part of the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
. A live cast recording was also made of the production.
Roles and cast information
Original Cast- Yvonne - Naana Agyei-Ampadu
- Gil - Harry HeppleHarry HeppleHarry Hepple is an English actor.- Career :Harry Hepple graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2006....
- Raymond - Arinze KeneArinze Kene-Career:Kene has appeared in stage productions such as playing Simba in The Lion King, Daddy Cool, and in June 2009 played strutting lothario Raymond LeGrendre in the musical Been So Long, based on Ché Walker's 1998 play, which opened at the Young Vic...
- Simone - Cat SimmonsCat SimmonsCat Simmons is an English actress, best known for her role as DC Kezia Walker in the long running ITV drama The Bill. And for starring in Family Affairs as Scarlett Anderson. Simmons also plays a character called "Sista Twista" in a film called "Life & Lyrics"...
- Barney - Omar Lye-FookOmar Lye-FookOmar Lye-Fook and known as Omar, is an internationally acclaimed British soul singer, songwriter and musician. Omar grew up in Canterbury, Kent. He learned his craft classically, playing the trumpet, piano and percussion. Omar also spent two years at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, and...
- Singers - Samantha-Antoinette Smith, Gemma Knight Jones, Jenessa Qua