That Day We Sang, the Musical set in 1969 Manchester and premiered at the Manchester International Festival and ran at the Royal Exchange Theatre is coming to the small screen as part of the BBC’s Xmas schedule.
Written by Victoria Wood, it tells the story of Tubby played by Michael Ball and Enid (Imelda Staunton), two lonely middle-aged people who grab a second chance at life, reconnected by the power of music.
They meet at a reunion of the Manchester Children’s Choir who made the iconic Columbia recording of Nymphs and Shepherds in 1929.
Tubby and Enid’s faltering romance is interweaved with the story of Jimmy, a
member of the choir whose love of singing transcends his difficult home life.
One of the ex-choir children is Tubby, a middle-aged insurance salesman, living alone after the death of his mother. Hearing the record for the first time in 40 years he gets a glimpse of the boy he was, and the man he could be, if he has the courage to change. At the same reunion is Enid, living in a safe narrow world of her own construction.
The music stirs powerful memories in both and seems to offer a new direction, a last grab for love. We interweave their faltering romance with Jimmy’s story, living with his adored but embittered mother in a tiny back-to-back in Depression-hit Manchester.
Writer Victoria Wood says: “Tubby And Enid brings together everything I love – singing, dancing, comedy, love and chips. A musical set in ’29 and ’69 complete with tap dancing children, singing coal men and possibly a tram, was always going to be a big undertaking, and I’m very appreciative of the way everyone at the BBC has been so encouraging and supportive.
“Imelda and Michael are my dream team, superb professionals at the top of their game. I’m hoping to deliver something that will be a real treat for the audience.”
