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Anything Goes

Barbican Theatre

4.9/5 based on 41 reviews (read reviews)

Booking until: Saturday, 3 September 2022

This show is now closed

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Anything Goes photos

Anything Goes description

Anything Goes – A huge stage musical treat

All aboard the S.S. America! It's time for a funny, saucy new production of Cole Porter and P. G. Wodehouse’s classic musical Anything Goes, a prime candidate for top class escapism in 2021. The plot is hilarious, the show tunes are still loved by millions – think ‘I Get A Kick Out of You’, ‘You’re the Top’, and ‘It’s De- Lovely – and every single aspect of this new production has been designed to delight. The result is an awesome event for musical theatre fans and a triumph for the Barbican theatre.

What's the story?

Let's climb on board the S.S America, the fantasy ocean liner at the heart of this multi-award-winning musical. The story follows the farcical antics of the passengers as two highly unlikely couples make their way along the rocky course to true love, aiming for a lifetime of romance.

The story reveals endless madcap antics on board the ship, which is bound from New York to London. Billy Crocker has stowed away, a man deeply in love with the wealthy heiress Hope Harcourt. She is already engaged to the upper class twit Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. The nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and the dodgy 'Moonface' Martin are on Billy's side.

Etiquette means nothing on board a ship like this, and it soon becomes clear that destiny needs a helping hand. Luckily there's a massive crew of singing and dancing sailors on board to help the romance along, thanks to a hilarious disguise, a crazy attempt at blackmail, a whole ship-load of double-entendres, plus oodles of timeless laughs.

About Anything Goes

Making her West End debut, we're thrilled to present the award-winning American actress, comedian and singer Megan Mullally, who plays Reno Sweeney. She comes complete with serious acting talent, three SAG awards, two Emmy awards, and four Golden-Globe Nominations, responsible for the iconic role of Karen Walker in the TV sitcom Will & Grace. She joined by our very own three-time Olivier and Tony winner Robert Lindsay, who portrays Moonface Martin. Together they create sheer stage magic.

The music and lyrics come from the musical genius Cole Porter. The original book was a collaboration between Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, later revised dramatically by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It debuted on Broadway in 1934 and has been revived several times since then around the world, as well as being a popular production with amateur dramatics clubs.

This 2021 revival is seriously special. Kathleen Marshall, who directed and choreographed the hugely popular 2011 revival, returns to choreograph this brand new version. She's joined by a crack creative team including the set designer Derek McLane, the lighting designer Neil Austin, the sound designer Simon Baker and the musical supervisor Stephen Ridley.