John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert

John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert is a 1974 musical by Willy Russell based on the story of the Beatles.

John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert
Written byWilly Russell
CharactersThe Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr), Bert McGhee
Date premieredMay 1974 (1974-May)
Place premieredEveryman Theatre, Liverpool, England
Original languageEnglish
SubjectThe Beatles
Genremusical, biography
Official site

It premiered at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool in May 1974 where it ran for eight weeks and later moved to the Lyric Theatre in London in August 1974, where it ran for a year and was later named "Best Musical of 1974" by the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and London Critics' awards.[1] It featured the music of the Beatles performed by Barbara Dickson.

It also briefly ran in Ireland in 1977 and in the United States in 1985.[2]

Creative team
  • Directed by Alan Dossor
  • Design : Graham Barkmerth
  • Lighting : Mick Hughes
  • Sound : David Collison
  • Movement Consultant : Rufus Collings

Original London Cast

Album

An Original Cast Recording album was released from RSO Records.

Side One

Side Two

Credits

Produced by Ian Samwell

Reaction

According to an interview with Creem magazine, George Harrison stated that he saw the play with Derek Taylor and greatly disliked it.[3] He walked out while attending the London premiere and withdrew his permission to use his song "Here Comes the Sun".[4] It was replaced with "Good Day Sunshine".[5]

After excerpts from the play were broadcast on BBC television, Paul McCartney criticised it for being biased against him and in favour of Lennon, objecting in particular to the suggestion that it was McCartney and not Lennon who was responsible for the break-up of the Beatles. McCartney blocked a proposed film version of the musical.[6]

References
  1. "John Paul George Ringo ... & Bert". Willy Russell.
  2. "John, Paul, George, Ringo... & Bert". Userpages.umbc.edu.
  3. Beatlesnumber9. "George Harrison Creem Interview". Beatlesnumber9.com.
  4. "John Paul George Ringo ... & Bert". Jpgr.co.uk. 15 August 1974.
  5. Archived 13 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Sounes, Howard (2010). Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney. De Capo Press. p. 317. ISBN 978-030681783-0.
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