1966 – the height of Beatlemania, and the golden year every English football fan wishes will repeat itself. Talking Shadows’ new jukebox musical is a time capsule unearthed, with the not so glamorous social issues of the 60s clashing with vivid retro flare and football-fuelled patriotism.
Framed around the famous World Cup final between England and West Germany, we watch a group of friends’ relationships change throughout the course of the game. The characters are mostly walking incarnations of 60s gender roles. Flippant lines of casual sexism by the boys of the group are striking to the audience, effectively demonstrating the ingrained misogyny of the 60s. The boys’ characters blur into one, with most conditioning the women of the group to adopt traditional roles.
There are too many characters for a 50-minute performance; through classic songs from the period we explore a few of their backstories and emotions, but only for a second until switching to the next character. Shows of struggles with oppression such as one character’s vulnerable rendition of ‘You Don’t Own Me’ are well-matched and important glimpses into the misogyny, racism and homophobia that defined the time, contrasted with the boisterous and laddish worship of English football and the glamour of Beatlemania. The ending felt sudden with no closure or continued exploration of the female characters’ pathways and career aspirations. With the show’s structure revolving around developments in the football match, we follow a rowdy and raucous group of boys, pacing wildly with eyes fixed to the television draped with a Union Jack flag. Sometimes detracting from the discussions on social issues, we see a limit to what is explored of the wider social context of the year, eclipsed by the dominating football game.
The costumes are vivid and vibrant, from Dollierocker mod dresses to retro floral prints, complete with bouffant hairstyles. Alongside an immersive set including floral wallpapers, we are very much transported to the time period.
The songs are bright dazzlers of the 60s, performed with high energy and beautiful harmonies by an enthusiastic cast. From Sam Cooke and The Kinks, to Simon and Garfunkel and Lesley Gore, songs are seamlessly interwoven with the characters’ emotions.
With retro karaoke favourites and a slice of life in the Swinging Sixties, 1966 immerses us in a year we hear about through romanticised nostalgia, forcing us to remove the rose-coloured glasses.
Image by Paul Seaby, provided to The Student as press.