West End Wednesday: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 is a 2015 musical based on the popular teenage book series of the same name by author Sue Townsend. The story focuses on Adrian Mole, a young teenager who keeps a diary recounting his worries, regrets and misadventures growing up. Believing himself to be an intellectual, he is influenced by the world that is changing around him during the 80’s against the backdrop of Thatcher’s reign. 

Author Sue Townsend had begun working on the musical with the writing team of Pippa Cleary and Jake Brunger in 2012, up until her sudden death in 2014. They took the decision to premiere the musical in Leicester as it was the hometown of Townsend herself and of her character Adrian Mole. The musical opened at the Leicester Curve for a limited run from 7 March – 4 April 2015. The production directed by Luke Sheppard and with choreography by Tim Jackson received strong reviews, with many citing a West End run was on the cards. 

The show then made its London debut at the Menier Chocolate Factory, running from 14 July – 6 September 2017. This production was again directed by Luke Sheppard, featuring new choreography by Rebecca Howell and design by Tim Rogers. All of the four main child roles were played by four different actors, with Gay Soper as Grandma, John Hopkins as Mr Lucas/Mr Scruton, Lara Denning as Miss Elf/Doreen Slater, Dean Chisnall as Paul Mole, Kelly Price as Pauline Mole, and Barry James as Bert Baxter. The show received unanimously positive reviews, encouraging the producers to set their sights on the West End. The cast from this run were used to record the original London cast recording, which was released to coincide with the musical’s West End opening. 

Two years later, the production premiered at The Ambassadors Theatre for a limited run from 15 June – 28 September 2019. A new team of children were employed to cover the lead roles, whilst Rosemary Ashe who had played Grandma in the original Curve production came back, alongside John Hopkins and Lara Denning reprising their roles from the Chocolate Factory production. They were joined by Andrew Langtree as George Mole, Amy Ellen Richardson as Pauline Mole and Ian Talbert as Bert Baxter. The musical again opened to unanimously positive reviews with Ben Brantley of the New York Times giving the show his endorsement. Despite positive reviews, the show closed its limited run a fortnight earlier than planned. 

Besties, if you haven’t listened to this heart-warming and hilarious package of homegrown musical theatre, why not?! Get on it!

Cast recording available on streaming services. 

FACTS:

Music: Pippa Cleary
Lyrics: Pippa Cleary and Jake Brunger
Book: Jake Brunger

Theatre: The Ambassadors Theatre
Run: 15 June 2019 – 28 September 2019 (Around 110 performances)