One Day: The Musical Brings Iconic Romance to Edinburgh Stage
David Nicholls' bestselling romantic saga, One Day, has captivated readers as a novel, faced criticism as a film, and won hearts as a TV series. Now, it is set to debut as a musical, premiering in Edinburgh, the very city where its characters, Dex and Em, first sparked their enduring connection. The production aims to compress two decades of love and life into a two-hour theatrical experience, focusing on the intimate moments that define relationships.
Creative Team Tackles Adaptation Challenges
Playwright David Greig and director Max Webster, known for their previous collaboration on The Lorax at London's Old Vic, are leading the musical adaptation. Greig has experience with large-scale productions like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while Webster's success with The Life of Pi showcased his ability to bring fantastical elements to life. Their task with One Day involves navigating the pitfalls of adapting a near-iconic story, especially after the mixed reception of the 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway.
Despite the recent popularity of the Netflix series featuring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall, Greig remains unfazed. He describes their approach as creating a "butter sculpture" of the novel, emphasizing a distinct artistic process. The team is currently deep in rehearsals, with a script nearing completion and songs still being composed by the US pop duo Abner and Amanda Ramirez, known as Johnnyswim.
Musical Elements and Emotional Depth
The songs, blending pop, folk, and country styles, are designed to amplify the novel's subtle emotional beats. Greig notes that the Ramirezes are avid fans of Nicholls' work, which adds authenticity to their compositions. Performers Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose will bring Dex and Em to life, combining acting prowess with vocal talent to convey the story's depth.
Webster highlights how music can transform small moments, like a tense dinner or a forgotten letter, into powerful theatrical experiences. He explains, "Song can take those moments and fill the theatre with emotion, making them feel as vast as the evening sky." This focus on everyday life underscores the musical's theme that ordinary lives hold extraordinary significance.
Staging and Intimacy in Edinburgh
The production will be staged at Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum theatre, with the venue transformed into a round configuration to enhance intimacy. Audience members will be seated at cabaret-style tables, creating a close connection to the characters as their story unfolds from the Pear Tree pub, where Dex and Em first meet. This setting not only honors the novel's origins but also leverages local artistic resources.
Webster emphasizes the practical benefits of this collaboration, noting how it bridges subsidized and commercial theatre, especially amid Arts Council funding cuts. Greig, who recently stepped down as artistic director of the Lyceum, believes Edinburgh audiences will embrace the show, feeling a sense of ownership over the story.
Personal Connections and Future Hopes
Greig reveals a personal motivation for the adaptation: his wife, Lucie, whom he met in 1988, the year the novel begins. He hopes the musical will resonate with her and friends who may not typically enjoy theatre. The team aims to create a production that appeals both to theatre enthusiasts and fans of the novel, celebrating the unsung heroes of everyday life.
One Day: The Musical runs at the Royal Lyceum theatre from February 27 to April 19, offering a fresh take on a timeless love story through song and stagecraft.
