Backbeat - new stage version of one of the UK's best-loved cult British films

Backbeat is the story of the fifth Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe (the band's original bassist), and the two most important people in his life: John Lennon and Astrid Kirchherr.

Re-imagined for the stage by the original writer and director of the acclaimed 1994 film, Iain Softley, this new production of Backbeat is a passionate and vivid portrayal of a love story born out of the famous summer when The Beatles made their name in the city of Hamburg.

BBFC member Marcus Garside has seen the play and brings us this report:

I saw this on the 1st preview night at Glasgow Citizens Theatre, Tuesday 9 February and is on there until 6 March 2010. citz.co.uk.

This is how stage set up before any action starts—paint/brushes & music for Stuart
Photo by Marcus Garside

The play is a really good version of the Backbeat film and Iain Softly is the writer/director of the play with Stephen Jeffreys as Co-Adapter, who I had a quick chat to after the event.

The characters of John, Paul & George are spot on and the girl who plays Astrid has a very good English German accent all the way through.

Stuart & Astrid - Isabella Calthorpe
Photo by Marcus Garside

If you get a chance to see the play then I suggest you take it but speaking to Stephen he did say that they hoped to take the play around the country, we suggested the West End. Have also mentioned it to CCT. It was a really successful transfer for film to stage and was a fantastic night.

The play is in Glasgow only initially as they wanted to put the play on at a theatre that had a great history for artistic & creative interpretation but also wanted to distance the play from The Beatles nostalgia that a Liverpool premier would have attracted, it had to appear as a new piece of theatre in its own right.

—Marcus Garside

© 2010 British Beatles Fan Club