West End Theatre Breaks
Set in Hamburg in the early 1960s, Backbeat tells the story of Stuart Sutcliffe - a keen artist and The Beatles original bass player - and his relationship with best friend John Lennon and the German beatnik photographer Astrid Kirchherr. As the Liverpool group hone their sound in the seedy clubs of the red light district, Sutcliffe struggles with his loyalties - torn between the band and his growing feelings for Astrid and his artwork. Sutcliffe eventually left The Beatles, handing over his guitar to Paul McCartney. He died soon after of a brain haemorrhage aged just 21-years-old. Backbeat includes several early songs performed by The Beatles, including: Twist & Shout, Rock & Roll Music, Long Tall Sally and Please Mr Postman.
This new stage adaptation of Backbeat is based on the 1994 BAFTA-nominated film. The plot centres on the triangular relationship between Stuart Sutcliffe (The Beatles’ original bass player and an accomplished painter) his best friend, John Lennon, and Astrid Kirchherr (the beatnik West German photographer who Sutcliffe falls in love with). Backbeat includes several early songs performed by The Beatles, including: ‘Twist & Shout’, ‘Rock & Roll Music’, ‘Long Tall Sally’ and ‘Please Mr Postman’. This show is co-written by Iain Softley, the writer of the original film.