Set moments before a life-changing surgery is due to rewrite her body and future, audience join
Amanda on a touching journey as she prepares to step fully into her authentic self. The
protagonist finds herself reliving her entire life in a powerful musical monologue as she
undergoes gender-affirming surgery. This blaze of memories sees hidden dreams, forbidden love
and hard-won freedom unfold with heartbreak and unflinching honesty. From sweeping ballads
to upbeat musical numbers, Amanda’s confessions flourish through the score as the cost of
silence and joy of finally claiming your truth are explored in this breathtaking musical.
Review by Richard Lambert.
The most beautiful story of Amanda, based on conversations with real people, shines through in this production.
Here, we see Divina the actor, rather than “Divina da Campo the drag queen”, delivering an incredible performance, with beautiful, emotionally charged singing and superb vocal control.
Originally developed in Vienna, Amanda – The Night Before Me now arrives in London for its UK premiere at the Bridge House Theatre. Based on conversations with real people, this moving and beautifully layered musical tells Amanda’s story through powerful storytelling, emotional depth and glorious music. Starring Divina de Campo in a striking departure from her familiar drag persona, this is an intimate and deeply affecting theatrical experience.
Playing Amanda, Divina reveals a wonderfully nuanced and emotionally layered performance that is quite unlike anything you might expect.
The set is gorgeous — I want this to be my bedroom! The lighting works beautifully, and the musical backing tracks are glorious.
The stage management cueing is exceptional. With Amanda singing ahead of the backing tracks in perfect pitch, before the tracks are triggered to come in on precisely the right beat, you know the operator has a musical ear. I was told that the show is operated by the very person who composed the music, which comes as no surprise!
Charles Hart is one of British musical theatre’s most distinguished lyricists, best known for his work on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, for which he received international acclaim. His other credits include Aspects of Love and Bend It Like Beckham. For Amanda – The Night Before Me, Hart has created the English-language lyrics, bringing his celebrated gift for lyrical storytelling and emotional nuance to Rory Six’s deeply personal musical. His involvement adds considerable West End pedigree to this UK premiere. No wonder this show is so good!
This show is extraordinary. I laughed, I cried, I went on a journey, and afterwards I messaged all my friends telling them they should come and see this truly wonderful piece of theatre.
Cast
Divina de Campo — Amanda and 14 additional roles.
Creatives
Rory Six — Book, music, original lyrics and co-director
Charles Hart — English version and lyrics
Jerôme Knols — Co-director and choreographer
Bettina Bogdany — Musical director
Perrin Manzer Allen — Orchestrations and musical supervisor
Timo Verse — Set designer
Stephanie Affleck — Lighting designer
Birgit Plank — Production assistance
Theatercouch — Producer
Social Media
@divinadecampo
@amanda_musical
@bridgehousetheatre
Website https://www.amanda-musical.com/