You only have to hear the opening bars of the overture and you're swept away with the light, frothy entertainment where people burst into song & break into their dance for no good reason at all… the definition of a musical? Not always true, from its earliest days the popular art form has dealt with social issues within the confines of a lighter style. From the ground-breaking “Show Boat” back in 1927 which dealt with race relations along The Mississippi, to the hottest ticket in town “Hamilton” about America’s founding fathers.

The Musical can cut through all areas of society & speak to different generations. It took just over a minute for Lieutenant Cable in “South Pacific” to deliver the controversial “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught”, that number is preceded by a line saying racism is "not born in you! It happens after you’re born..." Composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein risked the entire film by insisting the number remain even if it meant the failure of the production! Think of “Hairspray” it’s not just a bunch of teenagers bopping around to insanely catchy tunes it deals with segregation at its most devasting.

With anecdotes and fascinating archives from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Paul Robeson, Sammy Davis Junior, Lena Horne, & Alice Walker, amongst others. We also hear from Warren Hoffman author of “The Great White Way – Race And The Broadway Musical”, Stacy Wolf Senior Theatre Studies Lecturer at Princeton University, Broadcaster Neil Brand and actors Marisha Wallace talking about her roles in “Dreamgirls” and upcoming role in “Hairspray” and Beverley Knight reliving her role in “Memphis The Musical” plus looking forward to her starring West End role in “The Drifter’s Girl”,

So let's raise the curtain on the message behind the musical Show less