the last five years

By Jason Robert Brown

Wojta Productions - Porters Theatre, Cardiff

The Last Five Years chronicles the tumultuous relationship between Jamie, a new and upcoming writer, and Cathy, a budding young actress. We see their whirlwind romance unfold from break-up to meeting and meeting to break-up, uncovering the pieces that eventually led to the dissolving of their marriage.

With Jason Robert Brown’s groundbreaking score at the helm, The Last Five Years will leave you entranced, satisfied and heartbroken for what could’ve been for the pair.

Originally produced for the New York stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell.
Originally produced by Northlight Theatre, Chicago, USA.
By arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Reviews

British Theatre Guide - Jon Marshall
"Director Alice Eklund draws out the best from the material, understanding this melding of heartbreak and humour and immediately pulling us into the world of the play."

"The revival of this musical marks the first time Eklund and producer Sara Marie Wojta have worked together since forming a creative partnership. With such high production values, their ambition to add to Cardiff’s musical theatre scene is clear to see."

Theatre and Tonic - Kia Shah ★★★★
"The Porters’ theatre space transformed into a cosy living room, with blankets, books and pictures of the couple. Dotted on the walls, they created an atmosphere so real that I almost believed it was someone’s actual home. The seating on either side made it feel like you were part of the story, in the room with them. It was the perfect setting for the musical, making the experience feel intimate and immersive.

Despite the complex narrative, Alice Eklund’s direction made it all make sense. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear to newcomers, and the entire audience leans in, fully invested in the unravelling of Jamie and Cathy’s relationship."

Nerdy Notes - Emily Garside

"There are multiple ways to stage this, and how much the actors interact, and Eklund hits it perfectly. They inhabit the same space for many songs, one singing, the other lost in the moment of their story. Piece by piece, it builds up the missing fragments of the story- the parallels of what is happening in the other’s world at that moment work subtly into the narrative. This works most powerfully in The Next Ten Minutes, the only point at which they’re in the same moment. The moment that they finally look at each other- that’s a gut-punch moment of brilliance."

"The heart of the piece is, of course, in the musical storytelling, and Eklund’s direction, combined with Haller’s Musical direction, allows the score to soar. It’s a real privilege to hear it so intimately sung in the space at Porter’s, too. The music is elevated by Lara Lewis’s violin playing, which the refrains of haunt across the score under the actors’ performances."