Redcliffe is a stage musical with book, music and lyrics by Jordan Luke Gage, named after the neighbourhood of the same name near Bristol, England. The show is based on the real life story of William Critchard and Richard Arnold, and their love born in a period of persecution between 1752 and 1753.
Synopsis
Act 1 In 1752, William Critchard is returning home to Redcliffe for the Christmas holidays, after losing his job as a footman in a nearby mansion. On his way he crosses paths with Richard Arnold, a sailor from London, visiting the area ("Prologue/You'll Never Be Alone").
At home William's mother and sister Abigail are excited to have William back and mother is pressuring him to find a wife ("Pressure Pot"). She sends him to the local pub, where he quietly reads the newspaper in a corner. The pub's customer and owners sing and include Richard, who is visiting, pushing him to join in the song ("A Pint or Four"). A William is leaving, Richard joins him as he's headed in the same direction and the two start showing off their respective knowledge ("A Million Things I Know").
Abigail is dreaming about the local dance and hopes Arthur will ask her to go together, but he is planning to ask someone else. Discouraged Abigail dreams about the dress she is sewing for the occasion ("The Girl From Redcliffe"). Richard invites William to a soiree, which excites his Mother and Abigail as they think this friend that invited him could be a potential love interest ("The Most Amazing Wedding"). However, they are dishartened when they find out this friend is a man, but are hopeful when they hear that there will be women at the soiree. At the soiree, William becomes infatuated with Richard and leads to him kissing him on the way home ("The Soiree"). Richard flees and William is really scared of his own actions and the consequences they might lead to ("Void of Love").
On Christmas Day, Mother expressed her excitement around this day ("Mother's Favourite Day")
Act 2 While William and Richard spend the night together, the town barber sees them and reports them to the police. Richard has just left to return to sea, when William is arrested and put in prison ("Rough and Winding"). The town gossip grows, as the case is brought to court and we hear the testimony of the barber ("Barber's Statement/Did you Hear?"). The judge questions his credibility as he was drunk when he saw the two men ("Judge's Question").
The show ends with the cast stating that in the world there are still 12 countries where same sex relationships are punishable by death.
Cast and characters Character MTFestUK Workshop Off-West End WilliamJordan Luke Gage Richard James Darch Liam Tamne Daniel Krikler MotherRebecca Lock AbigailJess Douglas Welsh Barber Russell Wilcox Adrian Hansel Georgie/Judge Nadine Higgin Melissa Jacques Landlady Emma Lindars Leanne Jones Jade Johnson Esther Lauren Drew Phoebe Kyriakopoulos Arthur/2nd Officer Joseph Peacock Officer/Felix Farley Steven Serlin
Musical numbers
Act I "Prologue/You'll Never Be Alone" – Full Company "Pressure Pot" – William, Mother "A Pint or Four" – Landlady, Baber, Richard, Townsfolk "A Million Things I Know" – Richard, William "The Girl From Redcliffe" – Abigail, Townsfolk "A Million Things I Know (Reprise)" – Richard, William "The Most Amazing Wedding" – Mother, Abigail, William "The Soiree" – William, Richard, Townsfolk "Void of Love" – William, Townsfolk "Mother's Favourite Day" – Mother "Devotion" – Full Company "Never Getting Rid of Me" – William, Richard, Townsfolk
Act II "Rough and Winding" – Richard, William "Barber's Statement/ Did You Hear?" – Full Company "Judge's Questions" – Judge, Baber "Hurricane" – Mother "Felix Farley's Christmas Poem" – Felix, Abigail, Arthur, Townsfolk "Minutes Turn to Hours" – Full Company "I Am Found" – William "Loophole" – Mother, Abigail "The Letter" – Richard, William, Judge, Company "Home" "My Man" – William, Richard, Company "The Launch" – William, Richard, Company
Productions In interviews, Gage stated he was inspired to write the show after a visit to the Bristol archives.
Redcliffe was first presented at MTFestUK 2024 at the Turbine Theatre. Only Act 1 of the show was presented and the cast included Gage as William, James Darch as Richard, Jess Douglas Welsh as Abigail, Chris Fung as Landlord, Emma Lindars as Landlady and Rebecca Lock as Mother.
In May 2024, a full workshop of Redcliffe ran at The Other Palace in London. Cast included Gage as William, Lauren Drew, Liam Tamne, Rebecca Lock and Jess Douglas Welsh reprising their roles as Mother and Abigail, Joseph Peacock as Arthur and Steven Serlin as Officer/Felix Farley.
At Musical Con 2025, Gage announced that Redcliffe will open as a fully staged show for a limited run at the Southwark Playhouse in May–June 2026. Some of the cast reprised their roles, including Gage, Rebecca Lock and Jess Douglas Welsh and was directed by Paul Foster. The show also announced a series of post-show Q&A sessions with various guests from the theatre industry discussing various aspects of the production.
References
External links
Redcliffe at the Southwark Playhouse