Sorry, The Commitments closed on 01 Nov 2015

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About the show

The stage adaptation of Roddy Doyle's 'The Commitments' received its world premiere at the Palace Theatre in Autumn 2013. This brand new production directed by Jamie Lloyd is based on the 1987 novel by Irish writer Roddy Doyle, which was later immortalised on film by Alan Parker in 1991. Doyle's novel is the first in his 'Barrytown Trilogy' and is set in Dublin during the late 1980s, following a group of unemployed musicians who attempt to bring soul music to the people of Ireland.

'The Commitments' tells the story of two friends who get together to start a band. Realising they know nothing about the music industry, they seek the help of Jimmy Rabbitte who agrees to become their manager. He names them 'The Commitments', and tells them that to be unique they need to become the first ever Dublin based soul group, and he plans to start a soul revolution in the Irish city. After advertising for more members, he puts together a mismatched group of individuals led by Joey 'The Lips' Fagan. As they struggle to find their sound and keep afloat at gigs, tensions begin to run high within the group, and as with many bands jealously leads to its overall downfall.

The film adaptation became a cult classic and is consistently voted as one of Ireland's most famous films. The soundtrack was extremely popular during the early 1990s, and featured songs such as "Mustang Sally", "Try a Little Tenderness", "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", "Chain of Fools" and "In the Midnight Hour". The film won the BAFTA Award for Best Film, and the soundtrack peaked at number 4 in the UK Album charts.

Director Jamie Lloyd has worked on a number of musicals, specifically at the Donmar Warehouse where his productions of 'Passion' and 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' received much critical praise. He is currently in residence at the Trafalgar Studios, with a season that included Macbeth with James McAvoy and The Hothouse. He also directed the London premiere of hit musical Urinetown.