The Last Five Years – a “masterpiece” described as “one of the most powerful musicals of the 21st century” is coming to Reading – one of only three towns in the whole country hosting the performance.
Reading Rep Theatre will host Built By Barn’s version of The Last Five Years.
The run starts at the Theatre in Kings Road, between Friday, September 19, and Saturday, October 12.
It will then move to the Barn Theatre in Cirencester between October and November, before finishing at the Theatre Royal Bath between November and January.
The show looks at the life of two New Yorkers in their five-year marriage.
It asks: “Can a couple once bonded by their shared love of creativity remain united as their lives diverge?”
The unique aspect of the show is that the story of one partner, Jamie, starts at the beginning and moves forward in time, whereas his wife Cathy’s story starts at the end.
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The show is written by the Tony Award-winning Jason Robert Brown and directed Hal Chambers.
His resume includes Yippee Ki Yay with Seabright Productions, As We Face the Sun at Rose Bruford College and The Holly King and The Oak King at Battersea Arts Centre).
Director Hal Chambers says: “I’ve wanted to direct The Last Five Years for over 20 years. While my background is in classical adaptations and new writing, this is the one musical I’ve always dreamed of staging.
“I’m a passionate admirer of Jason Robert Brown’s extraordinary work. Its storytelling, music, and emotional depth are unmatched.
“The narrative structure – Cathy moving backward and Jamie forward – creates a compelling theatrical puzzle reminiscent of a Christopher Nolan film.”
He continues: “It feels like a haunting memory play: dreamlike, poetic, and full of magical realism. Our production will lean into that, using bold imagery and movement to explore the ghosts of a relationship and the raw beauty of love and heartbreak.
“The music is breathtaking—joyful, witty, devastating—and I can’t wait to bring it to life with our cast. Performed in intimate venues, our vision promises a deeply personal and emotionally resonant Last Five Years that captures the show’s unique intimacy and power.”
Reading Rep Theatre Executive Director Nick Thompson and Founding Artistic Director Paul Stacey added: “We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with the Barn Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath to reimagine one of the most powerful musicals of the 21st century.
“The Last Five Years is a masterpiece: bold, intimate, and emotionally resonant. With this extraordinary team of creatives at the helm, we’re confident this revival will be both timely and timeless.
“This collaboration exemplifies the best of regional theatre: shared vision, exceptional talent, and a deep commitment to producing work of the highest calibre for audiences across the country. We can’t wait to open it in Reading.”
When can I see The Last Five Years?
The play runs at Reading Rep Theatre from Friday, September 19 to Saturday, October 11.
Tickets cost £22 to £24.50 for performances between Monday and Wednesday. For performances on Thursday to Sunday, tickets are £24.50 to £26.50.
There is a £5 discount for those aged 30 and under for performances between Friday, September 19, and Sunday, September 22. To take advantage of this offer, use the code 30UNDER for online bookings, or mention when calling the box office.
There is a £4 discount on prices for groups of 10 or more, and one free seat for every 10 booked.
School places are available, with these tickets costing £12.
For more details, log on to: https://www.readingrep.com/whats-on/the-last-five-years/
The show will then transfer to The Barn Theatre in Circencester. This run goes from Friday, October 17 to Saturday, November 15.
For details on this run, log on to: https://barntheatre.org.uk/the-last-five-years
The final leg of the tour will be at the Theatre Royal Bath. This show runs from Tuesday, November 25 to Saturday, January 3.
For more details, log on to: https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/the-last-five-years/
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