THE SHOW
FIVER is a musical by Alex James Ellison which premiered in July 2019 at the Southwark Playhouse. The sell out run received nominations for numerous awards including Best New Musical at the BroadwayWorld Awards and the West End Wilma Awards and Best Off-West End Production at the WhatsOnStage Awards.
More recently, a live streamed concert version of Fiver was performed during lockdown in November 2020 with that same cast as the original production, and a subsequent ‘live album’ is being released on 3rd March 2021. For more information on the live album, including how to order it, click here.
The incredible support the show has had throughout it’s life so far has inspired the writers to keep developing the show and they are excited by the prospect of future productions… watch this space!
For any enquiries please go to the Contact Us page.
THE CONCEPT
Have you ever looked at a five pound note and wondered ‘Haven’t I seen you somewhere before…?’
FIVER, follows the story of a humble five pound note as it passes through the hands and pockets of people in London. Often unnoticed and obviously unaware, the fiver is present for significant moments in each person’s life – whether it be an appreciation of their skills as a street performer; the start or end of a relationship; or the simple realisation that they can afford a bed for the night.
This beautifully crafted series of musical vignettes explores the value of money, relationships between people, and the relationships between people and their money. Through carefully interwoven narrative threads, we learn the presumed value and worth of a fiver to different types of people, and are present at the key moment when the value of a fiver – given or received – can be dramatically altered by circumstance.
The diverse characters in FIVER are explored through a broad variety of musical styles as we follow our unusual hero through the ups and down of what is – to a fiver – just a normal day.
THE REVIEWS
★★★★★ ‘A musically lush score which is not only highly entertaining, but superbly detailed and sophisticated. Fiver really provides everything you could wish for in a new, British, contemporary, relevant musical.’ Rewrite This Story
★★★★★ ’The music is brave and exciting and the songs are new, fresh and memorable.’
The Upcoming
★★★★★ ‘One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this emotional rollercoaster.’ LondonTheatre1
★★★★ ‘The numbers are diverse, haunting and breathtaking. The writing is pithy, funny, occasionally incredibly moving.’ WhatsOnStage
★★★★ ‘Fiver delivers everything that the British theatre scene needs to stay relevant, push boundaries, and connect with audiences in an authentic way.’ BroadwayWorld
★★★★ ‘Hiba Elchikhe’s ‘Whisper It To Me’ is glorious. A duet between Luke Bayer and Dan Buckley, ‘You’ll Be A Man, My Son’, is as inspiring as it is heart-breaking and later Buckley’s ‘I’ll Write a Song For You’ is nothing short of glorious..’ TheatreWeekly
★★★★ ‘Fiver is a hilarious, heartwarming and throughly enjoyable new musical that deserves a great future.’ LoveLondonLoveCulture
★★★★ ‘Fiver, written by Alex James Ellison and Tom Lees fills the space with vibrant energy and passion, taking the audience on a roller coaster ride as it charts the journey of an ordinary five pound note from pocket to wallet, through the hands of dozens of characters.’
The Spy in the Stalls
★★★★ ‘The beautifully written book almost out-Curtises Richard with its charming, whimsical vignettes.’ Musical Theatre Review