Trailer
Rehearsal Trailer
A New Wolsey Theatre Production
A musical romantic comedy that will tug at your heartstrings.
Recently a major motion picture, The Last Five Years is an award winning musical from Jason Robert Brown. Starting and ending with the beginning of a passionate love affair, the unique style of storytelling and infectious score makes this one of America's best modern musicals.
The lovers are Cathy and Jamie. Actress Cathy’s story starts with the end of their relationship following their tale backwards to when she first fell in love with her young talented lover. Novelist Jamie’s story begins with their first passionate encounter and heads forward towards heartache.
The Last Five Years stars Katie Birtill, who took the title role in Sweet Charity last autumn with a talented live band creating Cathy and Jamie’s world as it crumbles and reforms around them.
All performances will contain a creative use of Audio Description.
Originally Produced for the New York Stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell.
Originally Produced by Northlight Theatre, Chicago, USA.
Presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.
Katie trained at The Royal Academy of Music on their musical theatre course.
Theatre credits include: Sue in DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS: THE CHRISTMAS PARTY (Broadway Theatre); Charity in SWEET CHARITY (The New Wolsey Theatre); Monique in THE BOY WHO FELL INTO A BOOK written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn (The Stephen Joseph Theatre); Diva and u/s Shirley and Marion in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (UK Tour); Sue in DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS (UK Tour).
Vocal credits include: Featured vocalist for Ramin Karimloo's Road To Find Out tour; Soloist for Cole Porter Classics at The Royal Festival Hall; backing vocals for Russell Watson La Voce Tour and other vocals with Capital Voices.
Katie is also a singer/songwriter and will be releasing the EP FRAGMENTS of her own material soon.
Chris graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2014.
After graduating he played the lead role of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever at The English Theatre Frankfurt and recently covered Fiyero in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London.
The Last 5 Years has been one of Chris’ favourite shows since first hearing the soundtrack and he is very excited to be playing the role of Jamie.
Thought the two young people in The Last Five Years were exceptionally good and must go far in their profession. Katie Birthill was fabulous in Sweet Charity but equally good in this production. I thought £2.50for the programme was very poor value. However I am never disappointed when I visit the New Wolsey.
I didn’t know what to expect as I knew nothing about the musical. After a slightly slow and somewhat confusing start I quickly got the hang of the story which was portrayed well by the two singer/actors. Modern American musicals are not usually my favourite genre but this was an exception.
I have just returned from seeing this musical and must say I found it absolutely brilliant. At first I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this, but after about 15 minutes I was drawn in to the story line. The story evolved and I was captivated. As a final note the music score and pianist/conductor held the entire story together with her beautiful interpretation of the score.