Chu Chin Chow
Music by Frederic Norton Book and Lyrics by Oscar Asche
Music by Frederic Norton Book and Lyrics by Oscar Asche
Chu Chin Chow is a musical operetta based on the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, featuring themes of adventure, disguise, and a quest for treasure amidst a vibrant blend of cultures.
About The Play
About The Play
Cast in order of appearance
Abdullah – David John Watton
Khuzaymah – Sarah Jo Carter
Bostan – Hannah Richmond
Zahrat – Camilla Bard
Marjanah – Victoria Kruger
Alcolom – Esther Biddle
Abu Hasan – Edward Handoll
Kasim Baba – Alex Dower
Mahbubah – Adèle Anderson
Nur – Will Barratt
Ali Baba – Alan Cox
Otbah – David John Watton
Mukbill – David John Watton
Mustafa – David John Watton
The Orchestra
Musical Director / Piano – Leigh Thompson
Cello – Anna Hamilton
Clarinet – Paul Sadler
Flute – Kim Reilly
Trumpet – David Marley
Our Celebrating British Music Theatre series continues with a semi-staged score-in-hand production of one of the West End’s most successful musical hits of all time – the spectacular 1916 operetta Chu Chin Chow, with new orchestrations, rescored for piano, trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, flute, violin and cello.
Opening at the height of the First World War in August 1916, Chu Chin Chow swiftly became a favourite of soldiers on leave, running for almost five years and a total of 2235 performances – a West End record which it held until Salad Days forty years later.
Based on the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Chu Chin Chow is set in the magnificent Eastern palace of the wealthy merchant Kasim Baba who is preparing to give a lavish banquet for a wealthy Chinese merchant, Chu Chin Chow, who is on his way from China. However, bandit leader Abu Hasan arrives at Kasim’s palace in disguise as Chu Chin Chow, who his gang has recently robbed and murdered, as part of a dastardly plot to steal Kasim Baba’s riches. Meanwhile Kasim Baba’s brother, Ali Baba, discovers the secret of Abu Hasan’s secret cave of treasure and its password “Open Sesame”…
Chu Chin Chow brings together Egyptian, Javanese, Arabic and Chinese costumes, perilous quests, murder and treachery, forbidden lovers, high slapstick comedy, and some of the best known songs of the period including Any Time’s Kissing Time, The Cobbler’s Song, We Are The Robbers of the Wood and I Built a Fairy Palace in the Sky.
Visit the Chu Chin Chow production website here