DAOS lead with Jesus Christ Superstar

ONE of the great success stories of The Grove Theatre has been the phenomenal reaction by the public to the productions by DAOS. This small community drama group has managed to do what no other professional company has achieved since the Dunstable theatre’s opening - and that’s sell out every performance.

The one time Dunstable Amateur Operatic Society has found the key to their success in moving away from traditional Gilbert and Sullivan and light opera and, instead, spread their net wide to take in members from the whole district while chosing more ambitious productions.

And the gamble has paid off. This Thursday DAOS becomes one of the first non-church amateur groups in the country to be allowed to stage Jesus Christ Superstar, the award-winning rock opera by the gods of theatrical musicals, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Jesus Christ Superstar started life as a 1970 concept album recording a musical dramatisation of the last week of the life of Jesus Christ, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Crucifixion. The album caused quite a stir when it was first released and was originally banned by the BBC on grounds of being “sacrilegious.”

The album served as a launching pad for stage productions on Broadway and the West End with it eventually becoming the longest running musical at the time.

The show is best remembered for songs like Superstar, I Don’t Know How To Love Him and What’s The Buzz. It was a ground-breaking musical of its time, provoking controversy and adoration alike.

See it on the big stage at The Grove. The show runs until Saturday with a matinee included on the last day. For tickets call the box office 01582 602080 or go online www.grovetheatre.co.uk