Caroline: A New Musical is more than well worth travelling miles to see! I know as I came from deepest East Sussex and do not regret one moment of that time spent on road, rail, underground, rail and overground, then on foot to get to one of my favourite theatres, Queen’s, Hornchurch. Vikki Stone’s superb ‘juke box’ musical has been developed as part of the National Theatre’s ‘Generate’ project and is being staged by the East Anglian Touring Consortium, a group of producing theatre companies which have combined to produce work which would be financially impossible otherwise.
The result is one of the most enchanting, entertaining, uplifting shows I have seen for a long time – and it is British, and not adapted from a play, movie or biography but lovingly put together by Vikki Stone who has clearly researched her subject in depth to produce a book which is intelligent, witty, gives the protagonists real motivation and tells the story clearly so that the audience feels totally involved, as was obvious from the performance I attended.
Caroline is the almost true story of the first pirate commercial radio station which broadcast from a Dutch ship just outside British territorial waters between 1964 and 1967, when it was put out of action by Postmasters General Tony Benn and Edward Short.
Robbie, unemployed, manages to land a ‘D J’ job with the new Radio Caroline thanks to his fiancée Caroline whose world is small but full of dreams she shares with her friend Mary. Robbie quickly becomes absorbed in his job on board ship anchored off Harwich, rarely seeing Caroline, being hailed as a national icon when listening figures spiral into the millions. Meanwhile, the station’s founders, Kitty and Declan, do battle with the British Government to keep Radio Caroline on air.
The show is packed with 60s iconic hits – the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks and Lulu all being represented: my partner knew every one of them, as will you if you are lucky enough to see Caroline. (My advice: stop reading this and book now!) In addition, many of the advertising jingles that were used have been found and are used, which adds to the believability of the show. All are well, often inventively, chosen and are performed by a highly talented ensemble of actor/musicians, as has been the style of musical shows at Hornchurch since the days of Bob Carlton. The result is vibrant, rebellious and heart-warming!
Jake Halsey-Jones almost steals the show as DJ Robbie, being the epitome of 1960s youth, as well as being no mean dancer, guitarist, singer and actor. He has a charisma that develops slowly during the show, and it is difficult to imagine this role being portrayed more successfully. Claire Lee Shenfield is Caroline herself, displaying a true sense of style and her friend Mary is Eloise Richardson. Joey Hickman makes a suitably ‘spivvy’ Declan, the founder of the station and Kitty, every inch a 1960s businesswoman is Rhiannon Hopkins, also a superbly stylish keyboard player. Gareth Cooper is most amusing as Postmaster General, as well as displaying excellent drumkit skills and Jerome Lincoln very ‘po-faced’ as his Private Secretary.
Helen Atkinson has produced a very clear sound design, stylishly period costumes and set are by Stella Backman and Callum Macdonald’s lighting is imaginative but never obtrusive. Paul Schofield, the musical supervisor, has orchestrated the musical numbers not just for guitars but also for trumpet, trombone and saxophone – though how the cast are able to dance at the same time as singing and dancing is beyond my comprehension, especially as it is all done effortlessly and with obvious enjoyment.
Caroline celebrates the spirit of the era: youthful defiance, cultural change and the fight for new voices on the airwaves. As we left the theatre – which, by the way, has the friendliest and most helpful front of house staff one could possibly come across – we were saying that seeing a show like Caroline leaves you feeling uplifted, as well as singing the songs. With luck, by now you will have realised that I truly enjoyed this show very much! It is only at Queen’s Hornchurch until 16 May, after which it tours to Peterborough, Colchester and Bury St Edmunds. Directors Douglas Rintoul and Alex Thorpe plus everyone involved should feel justly elated with the undoubted success of this production. Surely a producer must pick Caroline up and tour it elsewhere?! Many congratulations to all concerned – I should love to see it again! Very highly recommended!
Review by John Groves
Caroline dreams of something more than stacking shelves at the local greengrocers. Her days are routine, but her nights come alive, walking the pier, sharing laughs with her best friend Mary, and spinning records with Robbie, her music-mad boyfriend who’s big on charm but short on direction.
But a music revolution is coming, and Robbie lands a shock gig with Radio Caroline—the pirate radio station blasting pop, soul and rock ’n’ roll from a ship off the Essex coast and suddenly everything changes. Caroline is swept into a tidal wave of music, mayhem and a movement that would shake up British culture forever.
Set to a soundtrack of iconic hits from the 60’s, Caroline is a vibrant, heart-warming and rebellious new musical about love, ambition and discovering your own voice.
She’s not a DJ. She’s not a rock star. But in the middle of Britain’s radio revolution, Caroline might just steal the show.
CAST
Nicola Bryan – Betty
Gareth Cooper – Postmaster General
Jake Halsey-Jones – Robbie
Joey Hickman – Declan
Rhiannon Hopkins – Kitty
James Lawrence – Steven
Claire Lee Shenfield – Caroline
Jerome Lincoln – Private Secretary
Perry Meadowcroft – Dave the Fish
Eloise Richardson – Mary
CREATIVES
Sound Designer – Helen Atkinson
Set & Costume Designer – Stella Backman
Dramaturg – Titilola Dawudu
Voice Coach – Charmian Hoare
Fight & Intimacy Director – Haruka Kuroda
Lighting Designer – Callum Macdonald
Director – Douglas Rintoul
Choreographer – Sundeep Saini
Musical Supervisor – Paul Schofield
Writer – Vikki Stone
Co-Director – Alex Thorpe
CAROLINE: A NEW MUSICAL
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, 6 to 16 May 2026
New Theatre Peterborough, 19 to 23 May 2026
Mercury Theatre Colchester, 3 to 13 June 2026
Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, 16 to 20 June 2026
