‘BAD GIRLS’ is a 2006 musical based on the popular television series of the same name. The series and musical chronicles the life of the inmates and prison officers of the fictionalised “Larkhall women’s prison” in south London.

The musical was developed for a northern premiere at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2006 with original TV writers Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus coming back to pen the book, enlisting Kath Gotts for music and lyrics. After a successful run, the Maggie Norris directed production transferred to the Garrick theatre in the West End opening previews on the 16th August 2007. Unfortunately, the musical did not find the same success the television show had, and it closed on the 17th November of the same year. For the West End run, actress Helen Fraser reprised her popular role of Sylvia ‘Bodybag’ Hollamby from the tv series alongside three other previous tv cast mates in various roles.

The musical has had two notable professional revivals since its noughties premier. The 2016 run at the Union Theatre opened to positive notices as well as the most recent 2019 revival at Upstairs at the Gatehouse.

Although it didn’t spark a successful run at the Garrick ‘BAD GIRLS’ is notable for having a cast recording and a DVD recording of the performance available despite this. “BAD GIRLS” is a fun and raw show about the dealings of prison life, having become notably popular in the British amateur dramatic circuit.

Give it a go Besties, there are some absolute bangers in it!

Cast recording can be found on Amazon and YouTube.

DVD also available on Amazon.

FACTS:

Music: Kath Gotts

Lyrics: Kath Gotts

Book: Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus

Theatre: The Garrick Theatre

Run: August 16th 2007 – November 17th 2007 (Around 80 performances total)

Nicole Faraday won the UK Theatre award for ‘Best supporting actress in a musical’ for her role as Shell Dockley.