''That Day We Sang'' is a British musical written and composed by
Victoria Wood
Victoria Wood (19 May 1953 – 20 April 2016) was an English comedian, actress, lyricist, singer, composer, pianist, screenwriter, producer and director.
Wood wrote and starred in dozens of sketches, plays, musicals, films and sitcoms over se ...
. It is based on a true story of the reunion of a famous recording of ''
Nymphs and Shepherds
Nymphs and Shepherds is a song by the English composer Henry Purcell, from the play ''The Libertine'' by Thomas Shadwell. When the play was first performed, in 1675, the accompanying music was by William Turner. Purcell's music was first use ...
'' in 1929 by The Manchester Children's Choir.
2011 Manchester International Festival
The play was commissioned for the
Manchester International Festival
The Manchester International Festival is a biennial international arts festival, with a specific focus on original new work, held in the English city of Manchester and run by Factory International. The festival is a biennial event, first taking ...
, and was first performed at the Manchester Opera House in July 2011, under the direction of Victoria Wood, for just ten performances. The cast was accompanied by a choir and the Hallé Youth Orchestra.
* Vincent Franklin as Tubby
*
Jenna Russell
Jenna Russell (born 5 October 1967) is an English actress and singer. She has appeared on the stage in London in both musicals and dramas, as well as appearing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She performed the role of Dot in ''Sunday in the ...
as Enid
*
Lorraine Bruce
Lorraine Bruce is a British television, film and stage actress, best known for her portrayal of Denise Simpson in the Kay Mellor five part BBC One series '' The Syndicate'' In 2013, she was cast in '' Lucky 7'', the U.S. version of '' The Syndi ...
Royal Exchange Theatre
The Royal Exchange is a grade II listed building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on the land bounded by St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street. The complex includes the Royal ...
for Christmas 2013, directed by Sarah Frankcom.
*
Dean Andrews
Dean Andrews (born 6 August 1963) is an English actor. He is known for his role as DS Ray Carling in the BBC drama series ''Life on Mars''. He continued the role in the sequel series, '' Ashes to Ashes'', until 2010. As of April 2019, he ha ...
as Tubby
*
Anna Francolini
Anna Francolini (born 30 October 1973) is an English actress.
Early life
Francolini was born in Chertsey, Surrey, attended Bristol Grammar School and studied theatre at the University of Warwick. She also trained as a member of the National Y ...
as Enid
*
Kelly Price
Kelly Cherelle Price (born April 4, 1973) is an American R&B and gospel singer. She started her singing career in 1992. Price originally garnered attention by singing backing vocals for Mariah Carey on multiple songs, including her ''Billboar ...
as Gertrude Riall
2014 television film
Provisionally entitled ''Tubby and Enid'', filming of a television adaption began on 6 January 2014 using locations in Liverpool, Manchester and Huddersfield Town Hall. It was produced by Paul Frift with executive producers
Hilary Bevan Jones
Hilary Bevan Jones is a British television producer. In 1994 she started Endor Productions, choosing the name from that of the novel ''The Road to Endor'' by E. H. Jones, her grandfather.Imelda Staunton as Enid
*
Michael Ball
Michael Ashley Ball (born 27 June 1962) is an English singer, presenter and actor. He made his West End debut in 1985 playing Marius Pontmercy in the original London production of ''Les Misérables'', and went on to star in 1987 as Raoul in ...
as Tubby (Jimmy)
*
Sophie Thompson
Sophie Thompson (born 20 January 1962) is a British actress who has worked in film, television and theatre. A six-time Olivier Award nominee, she won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the London revival of ''Into the Woods' ...
as Dorothy
*
Conleth Hill
Conleth Seamus Eoin Croiston Hill (born 24 November 1964) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has performed on stage in productions in the UK, Ireland, Canada and the United States. He has won two Laurence Olivier Awards and received two Ton ...
as Frank
*Harvey Chaisty as Young Jimmy (Tubby)
*
Dorothy Atkinson
Dorothy Caroline Atkinson (born 1966) is an English actress and singer. She has appeared in several plays by playwright Alan Ayckbourn and in films by Mike Leigh, including ''Topsy-Turvy'', ''All or Nothing'', and ''Mr. Turner'', which premiere ...
as Gertrude Riall
*
Daniel Rigby
Daniel Rigby (born 6 December 1982) is an English actor and comedian. He received a BAFTA TV Award for his leading role as Eric Morecambe in the 2011 television film ''Eric and Ernie''.
Early life
Rigby was born in Stockport, Greater Mancheste ...
as Mr. Kirkby
*
Jessica Gunning
Jessica Gunning is an English television and theatre actress. She was educated at Holmfirth High School near Huddersfield before attending Rose Bruford College, graduating in 2007.
as Pauline
*
Lyndsey Marshal
Lyndsey Marshal (born 16 June 1978) is an English actress best known for her performance in '' The Hours'', and as the recurring character Cleopatra on HBO's ''Rome'', and as Lady Sarah Hill in BBC period drama ''Garrow's Law''.
Biography
Mars ...
Ian Lavender
Arthur Ian Lavender (born 16 February 1946) is an English stage, film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Private Pike in the BBC sitcom '' Dad's Army'', and is the last surviving major cast member of the series following t ...
as Commissionaire/Older Mr. Kirkby
An hour-long documentary ''That Musical We Made'', about the making of the
telefilm
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
, was broadcast the following day and featured archive clips from the original reunion documentary about the real-life choristers which Wood first viewed in her twenties.
Michael Ball
Michael Ashley Ball (born 27 June 1962) is an English singer, presenter and actor. He made his West End debut in 1985 playing Marius Pontmercy in the original London production of ''Les Misérables'', and went on to star in 1987 as Raoul in ...
played ''
Nymphs and Shepherds
Nymphs and Shepherds is a song by the English composer Henry Purcell, from the play ''The Libertine'' by Thomas Shadwell. When the play was first performed, in 1675, the accompanying music was by William Turner. Purcell's music was first use ...
England, My England
''England, My England'' is a 1995 British historical film directed by Tony Palmer and starring Michael Ball, Simon Callow, Lucy Speed and Robert Stephens. It depicts the life of the composer Henry Purcell, seen through the eyes of a playwrigh ...