Preview: Saturday Night Sunday Morning, The Concert, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, June 4 to 7 (From York Press)

Preview: Saturday Night Sunday Morning, The Concert, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, June 4 to 7

10:46am Friday 30th May 2008 in Theatre By Charles Hutchinson

DIRECTOR Robert Readman is bringing to fruition his concept for a concert showcase that does more than string together well-known songs.

This devotee of Stephen Sondheim's musicals recalls his inspiration for York Stage Musicals' devised show, Saturday Night Sunday Morning, The Concert.

"Sondheim's first full musical was called Saturday Night, and I always had this idea of creating a musical show that would run through the weekend, from night through to day," he says.

"Songs are costumed and staged in an interpretation that is at the midway point between a concert show and a story, with a bit of narrative so that people know what's going on. At the end of the day, it's still a concert, but I like to think it's a bit deeper than that."

A cast of 54 will be performing numbers from 30 musicals, including Hairspray, Mary Poppins, Bat Boy, The Secret Garden, Altar Boyz, Avenue Q and the new West End hit Jersey Boys. Readman has even picked two songs from Legally Blonde, a Broadway show yet to transfer to London, while cartwheels on roller skates are promised too in a show choreographed by Jessica Hardcastle.

Among the soloists will be Alistair Barron, 19, from Hutton Cranswick, near Driffield, who will sing She's A Woman from Kiss Of The Spiderwoman, Sunday from Sunday In The Park With George and the closing Make Our Garden Grow from Candide.

"It's always good to have a bit of variation, and I particularly like this show because of the variety of musicals featured in it. From doing this show, I've researched musicals like Parade, which I then went to see at Leeds," says Alistair, who will begin a degree in musical theatre on a full scholarship at Guildford School of Acting in September.

• York Stage Musicals in Saturday Night Sunday Morning, The Concert, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, June 4 to 7, 7.30pm. Box office: 01904 623568.