John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert facts for kids

John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert is a 1974 musical by Willy Russell based on the story of the Beatles.

The first show was at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool in May 1974. It ran for eight weeks. In August 1974 it moved to the Lyric Theatre in London. It ran for a year. It was named "Best Musical of 1974" by the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and London Critics' awards. It featured the music of the Beatles performed by Barbara Dickson.

It also ran in Ireland in 1977 and in the United States in 1985.

Creative team

• Directed by Alan Dossor
• Design : Graham Barkmerth
• Lighting : Mick Hughes
• Sound : David Collison
• Movement Consultant : Rufus Collings

Original London Cast

• Bert : George Costigan
• John Lennon : Bernard Hill
• Paul McCartney : Trevor Eve
• George Harrison : Philip Joseph
• Ringo Starr : Anthony Sher
• Brian Epstein, First Beatles Manager : Robin Hooper
• Porter - Hitler - party guest - phone man... : Nick Stringer
• Teddy Boy Barry Woolgar
• Teddy Boy Dick Haydon
• Teddy Boy Ian Jentle
• Tiny Tina : Luan Peters
• Titular 1 : Linda Beckett
• Titular 2 : Elizabeth Estensen
• Titular 3 - TV reporter : Valerie Lilley
• Singer and pianist : Barbara Dickson
• Musicians : Robert Ash, Terry Canning

Album

An Original Cast Recording album was released from RSO Records.

Side One

• "I Should Have Known Better" (Barbara Dickson)
• "Your Mother Should Know" (Barbara Dickson)
• "Ooee Boppa" (Tiny Tina & The Titular 3)
• "With a Little Help from My Friends" (Barbara Dickson)
• "Penny Lane" (Barbara Dickson)
• "In the Bleak Midwinter" (Barbara Dickson)
• "Here Comes The Sun" (Barbara Dickson)
• "Long and Winding Road" (Barbara Dickson)

Side Two

• "Clap and Cheer" (The Cast)
• "Help" (Barbara Dickson)
• "Lucy in the Sky" (Barbara Dickson)
• "You Never Give Me Your Money"/"Carry That Weight" (Barbara Dickson)
• "We Can Work It Out" (Barbara Dickson)
• "I Will Be Your Love" (Leroy Lover - Bert)
• "A Day in the Life" (Barbara Dickson)

Credits

Produced by Ian Samwell

• Keyboards and Vocals : Barbara Dickson
• Fender Bass : Pete Zorn
• Drums and Percussion : Dave Mattacks (Courtesy of Island Records)
• Guitar : Kevin Peek
• Additional Vocals : Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan (Courtesy of A & M Records)
• Horns and Woodwinds arranged by Jimmy Horowitz and Ian Samwell
• Engineer : Dennis Weinreich

Reaction

George Harrison stated that he saw the play with Derek Taylor. He disliked it. He walked out while of the London premiere and withdrew his permission to use his song "Here Comes the Sun". It was replaced with "Good Day Sunshine".

After part of the play was shown on BBC television, Paul McCartney criticised it for being biased against him and in favour of Lennon. He objected to the suggestion that it was McCartney and not Lennon who was responsible for the break-up of the Beatles. McCartney blocked a proposed film version of the musical.