Hailed as 'the most exciting new British musical in years' (WhatsOnStage), Standing at the Sky's Edge was originally written as a love letter to Sheffield, charting the hopes and dreams of three generations over the course of six tumultuous decades, navigating universal themes of love, loss and survival.

With irresistible songs by legendary singer-songwriter Richard Hawley and a beautiful, hilarious and gut-wrenching book by Chris Bush, Standing at the Sky's Edge reveals the history of modern Britain through the stories of a landmark housing estate. It is a heartfelt exploration of the power of community and what it is we all call home.

It was first performed at Sheffield Theatres in 2019, directed by Robert Hastie, before transferring to the National Theatre in 2023, and then the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London's West End in 2024. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, the UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production and the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Theatre.

About the Author

Chris Bush's plays include the three-part Rock/Paper/Scissors (also premiered at Sheffield Theatres), Hungry (Paines Plough) and Faustus: That Damned Woman (Headlong). Richard Hawley has released nine solo albums - and is a former band member of Longpigs and Pulp. They are both from Sheffield.

Reviews

'The best British musical in decades'

* Daily Express *

'Brilliant... a soaring achievement... a tightly wrought tapestry of intergenerational harmony and conflict... a towering feat of contemporary musical theatre. It stands as a shining tribute to the combined power of both popular music and stage storytelling, and subsidised and commercial theatre. Unmissable'

* WhatsOnStage *

'Magnificent... wonderful... possesses remarkable breadth and depth... a moving and resonant piece'

* The Times *

'A glorious love letter to Sheffield with a big, booming heart and astonishing sound... unstoppably winning, ineffably exuberant, extremely moving... take tissues'

* Guardian *

'Uplifting and beguiling... a bold step forward for musical theatre... smashing'

* Evening Standard *

'Exhilarating and big-hearted... Bush's script is sparkily witty and affectionate, she interweaves the stories with great skill... A wonderfully generous, uplifting piece of theatre'

* Financial Times *

'A deeply moving, monumental musical that really matters... offers rare intellectual and emotional ambition... deserves to be a huge hit'

* Telegraph *

'A thing of elemental power... a truly singular musical... Bush has a great knack for mixing rabble-rousing populism with more astringent social commentary... It manages to be both widescreen and kitchen sink, of the theatre and of the estate. It's a hugely admirable achievement'

* Time Out *

'Something special... it worked its tender magic on me'

* Sunday Times *

'Fresh and original, gripping and full of hope... a feisty gem of a show'

* Reviews Hub *

'A huge-hearted, stirring show... a salute to resilience and community. It's jubilant and defiant, with the emotional force of a juggernaut... it elevates the extraordinary in ordinary lives, while charting 60 years of social change... both tough and tender, it seizes your heart and squeezes it tight... there's a thrilling scope and elan to the way in which the writing embraces the personal and political and the sweep of recent history, taking in the realities at the sharp end of government policies, strikes, gentrification and class inequality - all of which has obvious enduring pertinence... a triumphant tribute to all the unacknowledged battles fought and dreams pursued, all the tiny miracles of the everyday'

* The Stage *

'A real tearjerker, rich in pathos'

* Independent *
'The perfect blend of power and heart... Praise be for this bittersweet musical love letter to the city of Sheffield that reaches far beyond South Yorkshire to encompass a haunting meditation on the universal idea of home' * iNews *

'A tender yet powerful collage of Sheffield's spiritual and political history... The way Chris Bush conjures a sense of time and place is astonishing. She evokes the stories effortlessly in all their unspeakable totality, warmth, and sentimentality'

* Broadway World *

'A sensational new British musical'

* Theatre Weekly *

'This is what a new musical should be. It feels fresh and contemporary, but with all the elements that make for classic musical theatre... you'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be blown away... a show that bursts with spirit and energy. It leaves you feeling excited just to be at the theatre'

* Broadway Baby *

'Unique and utterly beguiling... The sky's the limit for this total triumph of a British musical'

* London Theatre *

'Magnificent... heartbreaking and heart soaring in equal measure, towering over other West End musicals'

* British Theatre *

'An incredible achievement in modern musical theatre, It's a must see... Standing at the Sky's Edge might just be the British musical of the decade'

* West End Best Friend *


Awards
Winner of Best Musical Production, UK Theatre Awards and Best New Musical, Olivier Awards 2023 and South Bank Sky Arts Award for Theatre.



Book Information
ISBN 9781839043253
Author Chris Bush
Format Paperback
Page Count 120
Imprint Nick Hern Books
Publisher Nick Hern Books
Weight(grams) 136g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 9mm