Theatre Review: Nottingham Operatic Society - Chess The Musical

Nottingham Operatic Society has a well honed reputation for turning out an annual pro grade theatre date and this years show Chess is no exception.

I don’t remember the first time I listened to Chess or how many times I have listened since, but it's a favourite. One of the flurry of band driven modern musicals and rock opera of the 80s, with Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of Abba fame teaming up with Tim Rice who created the lyrics – it was always going to be amazing, despite the less than obvious topic.

At its heart it is a love story: a love of the game, a love of nation and a love of others, against a backdrop of the Cold War in the 1980s. First performed in London in 1986 there is a definite 80s feel but the beautifully crafted harmonies and powerful duets and solos don’t date.

Anatoly Sergievesky (played by the spectacular Kirt Hammonds) plays for the USSR, overseen by his scheming party minded second Alexander Molokov (played by the equally impressive Simon Theobald). His opponent is the arrogant American Freddie Trumper created with beautiful diction by a Florida suited Ollie Last and his Hungarian born English second Florence Vassy, played by the powerhouse of a voice Lucy Haigh. The Russians feel the pressure from Party and Homeland and the Americans from sponsors, 'agencies' and a media that is pushing the competition as an East vs West event.

The first international tournament is in the snow-capped mountains of Merano where the players seconds try to encourage some civility between a hostile Freddie and a cool Anatoly but to little avail. To throw the American team the Russians decided to angle for a romantic connection between Florence and Anatoly to throw Freddie, through a shared passion for chess and a shared early history in communist nations, but the tactical honey trap quickly deepens. Haigh’s performance of ‘Nobody’s Side’ then the ‘Mountain Duet’ with Hammond were spectacular with a real chemistry between them evident.

The story moves on with defections, deceptions and disappointments as their lives are played out like chess pieces, manipulated by the politics of the time. Freddie and Anatoly next meet at the following years world championships in Bangkok as Anatoly defends his title representing Britain and Freddie is a network reporter. It is here Freddie sings probably the most well-known song ‘One Night in Bangkok’. Anatoly retains his title but nothing else seems to be going in his favour. Is wife, Svetlana, from Russia is brought to Bangkok to unnerve him and try to coax him back to the Motherland. At this point we are again treated to a tremendous performance from Cat Perry as Svetlana who joins Haigh in another well-known song ‘I know him so well’.

The set was simple and spacious with an excellent use of lighting. Often filled with a very large ensemble, making for plenty of well-choreographed movement on stage. Lots of fun moments, including a massive lurid Bangkok neon street scene in some brave costumes, a vodka fuelled backstage booze up and dance session from the Soviet faithful and a particularly witty routine from a small troupe of British Bowler wearing Beauracrats helping Anatoly seek political asylum.

There were relatively few clunks and bumps from the beautifully multi-generational ensemble who performed the many harmonies perfectly. The leads, well, they really were something to behold. The opposing players and their seconds are packing Top Tier West End grade voices here, Nottingham Operatic are blessed to have them. The icing on the cake was the sizeable live orchestra, an added bonus and doubtless the best way to hear the score.

As always, the Nottingham Operatic Society have produced a superb production with performances that will give you goose bumps.

Nottingham Operatic Society: Chess The Musical plays at Nottingham's Theatre Royal until Saturday 31 October 2026.