“Once the Musical”: A Sneak-Peek with Dom Shaw

Somewhere amidst Thursday’s sweltering heat, I was tucked away in a rehearsal room in Elephant and Castle to get a flavour of Dominic Shaw’s reimagining of Once the Musical. Following the Dublin-based romance between an Irish busker and an eccentric Czech woman, Once is a tale of love, collaboration, and above all, music. Once hit Broadway in 2012 after a year of success in Cambridge, Masschusetts, and then hopped across the pond to the West End from 2013 to 2015. To all those shifting uncomfortably at someone getting their hands on a beloved musical, the rehearsal alone reassured me that the play is in good hands.

Music (and the connection it creates between Guy and Girl) is naturally at the core of this show. Treating us to the songs ‘Leave’ and ‘If You Want Me’, the foundations of the source material remain intact. Our Guy and Girl, Tomas Wolstenholme and Sarah Moss, bring a vivacity that breathes promising new life into Once. Wolstenholme brings an (almost) untamed energy to ‘Leave’ that makes the song very much his own. Shaw’s inspirations for his reimagining of Once are the electric yet intimate stadium concerts of Coldplay and Ed Sheeran. Wolstenholme’s raw rendition of ‘Leave’ certainly brings an intensity that could dazzle a rehearsal room or a packed theatre.

In ‘If You Want Me’, Moss brings an added vulnerability in her movements that counteract the power of her voice. This is the song where you see the company really working its magic. From the electricity and bravery in the music alone, it’s hard not to get excited. It’s clear to see that Shaw has fostered a collaborative workshop feel to the production with all hands on deck. If the rest of the musical represents Thursday’s sample, even the most die-hard Once fans can rest assured.

Shaw draws on a mix of influences under the umbrellas of rock and Britpop. Remaining true to Glen Hansard’s original score, Shaw introduces hints of James Bay, James Blunt, and Jeff Buckley to give a new edge to the musical. Shaw’s aim in incorporating these influences is to create a “half-gig, half-musical, half-play” feel. Given the unabashed passion from the cast, I have no doubt that Shaw will deliver on this. Under the wing of Alex Turney, an original Once cast member, the pair’s flexibility towards developing the source material further was encouraging.

“Don’t think you know”, says Turney, and I can that holding true in the rehearsal room. It is clear that their collaborative approach has resulted in a healthy adaptation of the original music. In the room, I see the engaged furrowing of brows and experimental bass riffs as the team builds on the songs together. Everyone in the ensemble displays a heartfelt passion for the final product and from the few snippets I was able to see, I left feeling optimistic about the fresh and tenacious energy that Shaw will bring to Once the Musical.

Once the Musical is at The Barn Theatre (Cirencester) from the 3rd of July until the 12th of August.

Words by Elizabeth Sorrell

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