Fiona English's book shows remarkable fidelity to (some of) the details of Lewis Hamilton's rise up to fame and fortune. It's great fun.Broadway World
The choreography is vibrant and the cast shine with excellent stage presence a hearty and humorous production.London Theatre
The production’s biggest success is its excellent cast, who deliver strong vocal performances even as they embrace the madness, hamming it up to outrageous levels in the name of comedy. Chaotic, silly and 100% unendorsed.The Blog of Theatre Things
Slapstick done with a knowing wink - and the effect is laugh out loud.London Theatre Reviews
It’s 1995 and a young go karting driver has just started to make his way on the track. He is young, scrappy and he is not throwing away his opportunity. When he grows up he wants to win the F1 World Championships. His background has nothing going for him: he’s growing up on a council estate in Stevenage – hardly known as the F1 generator of the world. In a sport that is dominated by the rich, how can a boy from Stevenage hope to make it?
1995-2007 pass and success follows success as Lewis rises up through the ranks until finally he meets Big Ron, the daddy of McLaren. His debut comes on the F1 circuit and, billed behind the current World Champion Alonso, the right hand man on Big Ron makes his debut and finishes a shocking 3rd – making the podium at his first ever F1 race.
One year passes and we are introduced to the allies and enemies of the circuit: Alonso, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Button. Assuming the audience are potential more musical pros than F1 pros, we’re guided through the dos and don’ts of F1 and by the end of 2008, Hamilton becomes F1 World Champion.
Dreams complete or perhaps not? Off the circuit a beautiful woman comes in to his life: Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussy Cat Dolls. Finally it seems Lewis has everything – the love of his cars, the love of a beautiful woman and the F1 trophy.
But by 2013 it’s all going wrong: Hamilton seems to have lost his magic behind the wheel and failure follows failure and Hamilton finds himself at the end of his 5th season not on the podium. Hamilton takes the major decision to leave his one true love: McLaren. Queue Big Ron of McLaren pining for his one true love: Hamilton.
Clutching his Mercedes wheel, suddenly Hamilton is rocketed through the podium: success starts to come calling and it feels like he’s got everything to play for. He also makes the decision to commit to his one true love: no not his girlfriend of 7 years Scherzinger, but his beloved F1 cars.
And so victory follows victory and Hamilton goes on to raise the World Cup in 2014 and 2015. Rosberg fights back in 2016 and in spite of Hamilton’s insistence that he won’t throw away his shot, his world turns upside down and he loses the title.
In 2017 he comes back fighting and after a ferocious assault on the cup, he lifts the trophy heralding him the most successful British driver in the history of the sport.
Stevenage council estate to F1 record breaker. Hamilton (Lewis) is the unlikely story of one grandson of an immigrant who finds incredible success. He rises up through the ranks, refuses to throw away his shot and blows us all away.
Press★★★★★ London Theatre Reviews
★★★★ Broadway World
★★★★ London Theatre 1
★★★★ British Theatre
★★★★ Musical Theatre Musings
ByDavid Eaton & Fiona English
CastHamilton - Letitia Hector
Nicole / Mechanic - Liberty Buckland
Alonso / Pussycat Doll no 4 / Simon Cowell - Louis Mackrodt
Big Ron / Pussycat Doll no 6 / Louis Walsh - Jamie Barwood
Creative TeamDirector - Benji Sperring
Choreographer - Joanne McShane
Assistant Director - Charlie Norburn
Set Designer - Anna Lewis
Costume designer - Zahra Mansouri
Lighting Designer - Clancy Flynn
Sound Op - Andrew Avery
Stage Manager - Rachael Murray
Writer (Book) - Fiona English
Writer (Lyrics) - David Eaton
VenueEdinburgh Fringe / King's Head TheatreYear2018