Directed by Kirk Jameson
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Writer – Peter Quilter
Director – Kirk Jameson
Musical Supervision – Nick Barstow
Scenographer & Costume Designer – Ingrid Hu
Lighting Designer – Mike Robertson
Sound Designer – Mark Goggins
Wig Designer – Helen Keane
Costume supervisor – Lorraine Parry
Italian translation & dialect coach – Judith Blazer
CAST
FLORENCE – Wendi Peters
COSMÉ – Charlie Hiscock
MARIA/DOROTHY/MRS VERRIDER-GEDGE – Anita Booth
Photography by Cian O’Riain
Set in 1940s New York, Glorious! follows Florence, a wealthy socialite with a dream of operatic stardom. Despite a complete lack of vocal skill, her exuberant and wildly off-key performances earn her a devoted following—culminating in a concert of a lifetime at Carnegie Hall.
Starring Wendy Peters (Coronation Street, ITV; Hetty Feather, CBBC), this witty and uplifting show charts the unlikely rise of a woman whose passion for music far outweighed her ability to sing in tune.
At the heart of the story is her relationship with pianist Cosme McMoon, played by Charlie Hiscock (Ted Lasso, Apple TV+), who finds himself caught between admiration, frustration and reluctant loyalty as he helps bring her vision to life.
★★★★
‘Ingrid Hu’s design is seriously impressive. Jenkins’ period apartment, complete with vintage furniture and opera posters on flock wallpaper, is transformed effortlessly into a bare recording studio.’ (North West End Theatre)
★★★★
‘Ingrid Hu’s settings and costumes are simply but exquisitely done and are very evocative of the 1940s era.’ (Musical Theatre Review)
★★★★
‘Ingrid Hu’s set, which – unusually for Hope Mill Theatre – includes a front-of-house curtain, is handsome and quite formal, which suits the structure of Quilter’s play as the action is divided into four distinct scenes building up to Foster Jenkins’ triumphant final concert.’ (The Stage)
‘Unusually for Hope Mill each scene is separated by the closure of a theatre curtain. The gradual unveiling allows the audience to appreciate fully the sophistication of Ingrid Hu’s stage set. Moving from a discreet sitting room and recording studio to a very impressive silk-screened recital area.’ (The Reviews Hub)
‘Ingrid Hu’s costume design was fantastic. Timely, glamorous and believable. This, together with the set design, brought the audience into the 1940s.’ (All That Dazzles)
