The Secret Life of Bees has all the makings of a truly great new musical – review
The Secret Life of Bees is a new musical based on Sue Monk Kidd’s novel of the same name; after premiering Off-Broadway in 2019, it has now made its way to London at the cosy Almeida Theatre.
With book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lynn Nottage, music by Tony-winning composer Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Tony-nominated Susan Birkenhead, it’s a show with a lot of promise.
Does it deliver? Thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint – this is an uplifting and moving new musical, full of fantastic original songs performed by some seriously impressive vocalists.
It tackles some serious material – focusing on an interracial friendship during the civil rights era, proceedings begin with Lyndon B Johnson announcing the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex or national origin.
