York Barbican offered a musical theatre masterclass on Tuesday – as West End royalty Carrie Hope Fletcher graced the stage in York for one night only.
Carrie Hope Fletcher’s Love Letters is an ode to love, loss and living. It’s the second of her solo tours which scraps the familiar concert format for a one-woman show – exuding storytelling, cleverly crafted monologues and audience interactivity.
It was like receiving a warm theatrical hug, the perfect antidote as the cold autumnal evenings draw in.
And nothing says interactivity quite like being able to have a say in the setlist itself! With an equally successful career offstage as an author, it is no surprise Fletcher used her penmanship to theme this production.
Her stories were shared through letters, which the audience were able to choose prior to the show – and with just a few simple words as prompts, they unknowingly sealed their fate of the songs selected. This enabled the anticipation to build even before entering the auditorium.
Famous for her roles in musicals such as Les Miserables, Heathers, The Addams Family and – dare I mention – the infamous Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Fletcher was always going to offer a excellent variety of musical numbers.
These were delivered by an unbelievably talented quartet, led by Malcolm Forbes-Peckham. They fully embraced their role within the show and I enjoyed their camaraderie throughout. With perfect sound balance and fresh arrangements, Carrie was in safe hands to deliver soft ballads, big belts and even the occasional musical theatre mashup.
If we weren’t already spoilt enough with one West End sensation, enter another as Bradley Jaden (currently touring as Javert in Les Miserables: The Arena Spectacular) joined Carrie to perform two delightful duets. She was nearly as excited as the audience to be joined onstage by her longtime friend and co-star, and their chemistry and informal chatter only brought further joy to the enthusiastic audience.
With a stage as large as York Barbican’s, it was surprising to see it look so cosy and intimate – dressed with bookshelves, writing desks and even a sofa for Fletcher to take her well-deserved rests on.
The stunning backdrop, designed by SnowIllustration, set the tone of the production with its beautifully drawn bookshelves and cleverly planted Easter eggs, and offered a nod to some of Carrie’s starring roles over the years.
This design went hand in hand with the storytelling shared throughout; motherhood, loss, longing and loneliness were just some of the many themes explored, with one central focus… love.
Love in its many forms – platonic, romantic but most importantly self-love, which I felt has never been more important to share with a younger demographic than in today’s world. There may be some stigma around influencers, but when influence is used like this, it can only be a good thing. I found it particularly warming to hear her fondness for her audience, who she described as a constant over the years.
Despite the exploration of more serious topics and the sharing of heartfelt sentiments, the show was also incredibly funny. It was a chance for the audience to see Carrie step away from her established characters, allowing herself to perform as the most important role yet: herself.
Carrie Hope Fletcher’s Love Letters gets our stamp of approval – don’t miss out on booking tickets before this UK tour concludes.
To see more upcoming productions at York Barbican, visit their website here.
If you missed Carrie in York on this occasion, don’t worry! You can catch her in Calamity Jane at the Grand Opera House next year.