Evita 

Newcastle, March 2016

 

Created in 1976, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Evita is a rock musical based on the real life of Argentina's first lady Eva Peron. Starting in absolute poverty, unrecognised by her better off father, Eva Duarte and her family survived as the working class. At age fifteen, Eva meets a nightclub singer and persuades him to take her back to the capital, Buenos Aires. Soon Eva rises through society by attaching herself to more wealthy and men of influence. When she meets Colonel Juan Peron at a charity concert, they become involved and soon she is the driving force for his appointment as president of Argentina. 

 

Once in charge, Evita takes more of the spotlight, in the spirit of supporting her husband, yet also raising her role in government. As a relatable figure for the working class, Evita gained great support, and hate, resulting in much change in Argentina. As she decides to run for vice president however, her health begins to decline, cancer slowly taking its toll on the young first lady. In her short life, ending when she was thirty-three, Evita went from utter poverty to the first lady, and along that road created such a memory that she is still idolised and despised today. 

 

With a large cast of 73, led by Amy Vee as Evita and backed by a full orchestra, the show is full of colour, dance, passion and emotion. Evita herself has 23 costume changes and 4 wig changes during the show. 

 

Director: Chris Maxfield

Musical Director: Greg Paterson

Costume Design: Bev Fewins & Kaswyn Hunt 

Head of Wardrobe: Kaswyn Hunt 

 

 

 

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