Love in Slough, a brand new one-man musical comedy written by Alexander Williams and based on the songs of Phil Craddock, is the story of Jack, a middle-aged man tied to an unfulfilling marriage, whose drab, directionless life is given an injection of vigour when he embarks on an unexpected love affair. This funny, fast-paced show is bursting with wonderful jazz tunes, which propel us through Jack’s journey of self-discovery and redefined relationships with sparkling wit and brutal honesty.
Alexander Williams is well known in his hometown of Watford as Great American Songbook vocalist Tiger Jazz, and as host of the popular Dial Up Open Mic events, which have been running for over 15 years. He met jazz pianist Phi Craddock when they ended up performing together in the SJ Jazz 5, a jazz band who perform at Watford’s Cassiobury Park bandstand every summer. Phil kindly gave Alex a copy of his two albums, and Alex was so inspired by the characters and emotions in the music that he constructed the entire plot of Love In Slough around his favourite songs.
Love in Slough received its world premiere in the Watford Fringe Festival 2024, so the performances this summer include some exciting additions and refinements. Alex and Phil still perform together every summer at the bandstand and are looking forward to seeing how far their musical venture will take them. Alex says: “It’s such a wonderfully entertaining hour packed with toe-tapping, finger-clicking music and a story brimming with humour, heart and hope. I really hope people get their tickets and come join us for a great evening of music and storytelling!”
Musical
60 mins
Pump House Theatre
Suggested: 12+
This show is part of a discount offer: Book 4 or more qualifiying shows and get 50p off each ticket when booked together. The Dial Up:
The Dial Up is an open mic event and arts collective run by ALEXANDER WILLIAMS. Alexander is a singer, writer, teacher, actor and director. He hosts the What’s On Watford podcast and the Dial Up Open Mic events, and sings The Great American Songbook as Tiger Jazz. Twice part of The Royal Court’s Young Writer’s groups, he’s an alumni of Penguin Books’ WriteNow Diversity in Publishing program. A Patron of Proud Watford, Ambassador for HERTS Pride and Trustee of the Pump House Theatre, in 2021 he was in the Question Time 50, contributing to the BBC’s flagship political debate show. He reviews for Broadwaybaby.com, was resident poet for Humanistically Speaking Magazine (2021-2023), is resident reviewer for the Watford Fringe Festival (watfordfringereviews.blogspot.com), was a finalist in the Watford Audentior Awards 2022, won the Watford African Caribbean Association Innovation Award 2024 and was included in Cambridge LGBT+ Alumni Association’s Inaugural Q100 list (2024) celebrating alumni who have contributed to EDI in their field or community. He led Watford’s celebration of the Borough Centenary, Queen’s Jubilee, Proclamation of King Charles III and King’s Coronation. He directed Andrew Sharpe’s House at the End of Empire (Pump House Theatre 2022 & 2023, Bossanyi Studio 2023) and Neil Maxfield’s Gotta Have Faith (Etcetera Theatre 2024). Books include: children’s book Wendy the Whale (Wynstone’s Press 2011); poetry collection Black Iris (Lulu 2014); young adult novel His Hidden Wings (TSL Books 2018); Little Willy, The Complete Works of Shakespeare in Limerick Form (KDP 2021); Secular Verses (KDP 2021); Where We Find Ourselves (Arachne Press 2021); Joy//Us (Arachne Press 2024). Plays include: Thyestes (Battersea Arts Centre 2008, published KDP 2021); Ophelia (Old Red Lion 2009); Dinner and a Doughnut (Scriptspace 2012); One Day On The Train (Scripted at Southwark Playhouse 2012); Stronger (Talawa Hotspots 2012); Ten Dates (Bossanyi Studio 2014, Attico Arts Café
