2011

The Likes Of Us

by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd-Webber

Director Tessa Davis

Musical Director Sue Edwards

Choreographer Karen Baker

In 2011, The Dunmow Players, put on this show at the town’s Foakes Hall and donated proceeds to children’s charity Barnardo’s – whose founder, Dr Thomas Barnardo, is the subject of the story.

 

 

Written in 1965 by Sir Tim Rice and Lord Lloyd-Webber, who would find West End fame with collaborations like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar, The Likes Of Us never found financial backing and remained forgotten until its first outing in 2005.

 

 

The Dunmow Players’ interpretation starred the young singer and 2010 Braintree’s Got Talent champion Joe Baker in the lead role as Barnardo, with a supporting cast of 22 children aged six to 13 and several adult stars. There was also a professional eight-piece orchestra.

 

 

Players' treasurer Sue Hartwell said: “The music is very typical Andrew Lloyd Webber – not a lot of people will have heard it, but once you’ve heard it you can’t get it out of your head. We thoroughly enjoying rehearsing and had amazing fun putting on this production.”

 

We were thrilled to be able to invite, Chris Barnardo, a decendant of Dr. Thomas Barnardo to attend the final performance. "It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening with great performances and superb songs." Said Mr. Barnardo.

 

 

Born in 1845, Thomas Barnardo set up a series of children's homes across the slums of Victorian England. They took in homeless children, giving them food and medical care as well as an education – and by the time of his death in 1905, Barnardo is thought to have helped almost 100,000 children.