A raucous musical featuring the hits of Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Book by Paul Sirett. Directed by Jenny Sealey. Music by Ian Dury & the Blockheads. A Graeae Theatre Company production in association with the Belgrade Theatre Coventry.
Celebrating the infectious music of Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Reasons to be Cheerful is a punk rock musical and gritty coming of age tale, which always leaves audiences shouting for more. Featuring Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ greatest hits including Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, Sweet Gene Vincent, Spasticus Autisticus and Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick this acclaimed show will fill the theatre with raucous glee.
Knock me down with a feather…
It’s 1979: Labour loses to the Tories, strikes rock the nation and Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ Reasons to be Cheerful (Part 3) climbs the charts. As the ultimate fans, Vinnie and his mates would do anything to see Dury at the Hammersmith Odeon, only the gig is sold out. But life has a habit of throwing strange things at you, and one night of frustration becomes something else entirely…
Let’s ‘ave it! Following nationwide tours, concert versions across the world and a performance at the London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, Reasons to be Cheerful went back on the road one last time.
All performances included captioned dialogue, BSL-interpreted songs and audio description.
Supported by Arts Council England
Originally produced by Graeae Theatre Company, New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and Theatre Royal Stratford East.