The Great British Bake Off Musical Explained

The Great British Bake Off Musical is a musical with book and lyrics by Jake Brunger and music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary, based on the British television baking competition of the same name.

Production history

World premiere: Cheltenham (2022)

The musical had its world premiere at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham on 23 July running until 6 August 2022. The production was directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, designed by Alice Power, produced by Mark Goucher, executive produced by Richard McKerrow in association with Love Productions.^{[1] [2] [3]} On 1 April 2022, casting was announced including John Owen-Jones and Rosemary Ashe.^[4]

West End (2023)

On the 18th of October 2022, it was announced that the production will transfer to London's West End the following year, running from the 25 February for a 12 week limited run at the Noël Coward Theatre, featuring some members of the original Cheltenham cast reprising their roles.^[5] Full casting was announced on 1 December 2022.^[6] The Original London Cast Recording was released on 28 April 2023.

Musical numbers

Act I

• "Prologue" – Company
• "The Bake Off Tent" – Jim, Kim & The Bakers
• "Obviously" – Izzy & The Bakers
• "Somewhere In The Dough" – Gemma
• "Slap It Like That" – Phil & Company
• "Bring on the Scone" – Jim, Kim, Pam & Phil
• "Grow" – Francesca
• "The Handshake Song" – The Bakers
• "My Dad" – Lily & Ben
• "All the Way" – Company

Act II

• "Keep On Keeping On" – Pam and Company
• "The Perfect Petit Fours" – Gemma & Ben
• "Don't Send Me Home" – Company
• "I'd Never Be Me Without You" – Phil & Pam
• "The Semi-Final" – Semi-finalists, Jim, Kim, Pam & Phil
• "Babs' Lament" - Babs
• "Rise" - Gemma
• "Finale " - Company

Cast and characters

Character!Cheltenham!West End

2022	2023
Izzy	align=center	Simbi Akande	align=center	Grace Mouat
Pam	align=center	Rosemary Ashe	align=center	Haydn Gwynne
Kim	align=center	Jaye Jacobs	align=center	Zoe Birkett
Russell	Michael Cahill
Babs	Claire Moore
Jim	Scott Paige
Phil	John Owen-Jones
Ben	Damian Humbley
Hassan	Aharon Rayner
Dezza	Jay Saighal
Francesca	Catrina Sandison
Gemma	Charlotte Wakefield
Lily	align=center	Ariella Elkins-Green Tessy Hawksfield Elizabeth McPherson	align=center	Aanya Shah Amelie Rouse Maisy Mein
Understudies	align=center	David Haydn Louis Gaudencio Gabriella Stylianou Annette Yeo	align=center	Jamil Abbasi Louis Gaudencio Stuart Hickey Gabriella Stylianou Georgie Westall Annette Yeo

Critical reception

The production received mixed to positive reviews from both critics and audiences.^{[7] [8] [9]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wiegand. Chris. 2022-01-21. Songs of glaze: Great British Bake Off musical to hit the stage this summer. 2022-01-24. The Guardian. en.
2. Web site: Wood. Alex. 2022-01-21. Great British Bake Off musical to premiere this summer. 2022-01-24. WhatsOnStage.com. en-GB.
3. News: Sanderson. David. 2022-01-21. Buns on seats for a Bake Off musical. en. The Times. 2022-01-24. 0140-0460.
4. Web site: Wood . Alex . 2022-04-01 . Great British Bake Off – the Musical announces cast for world premiere . 2022-04-06 . WhatsOnStage.com . en-GB.
5. Web site: Wood . Alex . 2022-10-18 . Cast for The Great British Bake Off Musical in the West End announced . 2022-10-18 . WhatsOnStage.com . en-GB.
6. Web site: Full cast for The Great British Bake Off Musical in the West End announced WhatsOnStage . 2022-12-01 . www.whatsonstage.com . en-GB.
7. Web site: Hood . Alun . 2022-08-04 . Great British Bake Off: The Musical review – all the ingredients for a theatre treat . 2022-10-22 . WhatsOnStage.com . en-GB.
8. News: Davis . Clive . 2022-08-04 . Great British Bake Off: The Musical review — a sugar-and-spice recipe with no soggy bottoms . en . The Times . 2022-10-22 . 0140-0460.
9. Web site: Gillinson . Miriam . 2022-08-03 . Great British Bake Off: The Musical review – sweet treat with a soggy bottom . 2022-10-22 . The Guardian . en.