SPEND, SPEND, SPEND - Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester (04/12/2024)

Wealth can be a blessing or a burden, and it’s the latter that tends to make for better storytelling, as is evidenced by this Steve Brown and Justin Greene musical which originally premiered in Leeds in 1998. Directed masterfully by Josh Seymour, Spend, Spend, Spend tells the story of Yorkshire housewife Viv winning over £150k in football pools, and her rags-to-riches-to-rags-again story that sees her through five husbands, a battle with alcoholism, and a plethora of frivolous purchases that ultimately bankrupt her.

Rose Galbraith and the company of Spend, Spend, Spend (credit: Helen Murray)

Though the overall premise is one that’s been done to death in film, tv and theatre, this musical keeps the focus squarely on our main protagonist, her relationships, and the often adverse effect the sudden injection of wealth has on her. But what was particularly clever was having an ever-present older version of Viv (played with staunchness by original young Viv Rachel Leskovac) narrate the story, as if she’s sharing her own experiences through the rest of the cast, which, given her prior affiliation with the show, feels especially poignant.

Young Viv is played by Rose Galbraith, giving us a performance of assured quality, with her silky smooth vocals a particular highlight. Alex James-Hatton as second husband Keith endeared us greatly to the character, contrasting wonderfully with George Crawford’s unwavering, stiff-upper-lipped Matt, Viv’s first love. The ensemble also deserve a great deal of adulation, executing Matthew Malone and Ben Ferguson’s exquisite vocal arrangements magnificently.

The ensemble of Spend, Spend, Spend (credit: Helen Murray)

Though there are definitive leads, this feels very much like an ensemble performance, as principals and ensemble alike execute some excellent multiroling. Additionally, the small, tightly knit orchestra, under the expert direction of Livi van Warmelo, are equally praiseworthy. And though the songs aren’t always the most memorable, Malone and Ferguson’s orchestrations really help sell Brown’s original score.

In many ways, Christmas is the most fitting time to tell this story, as it very much exemplifies the notion that how much you have doesn’t matter as much as who you’re with. This show may be flawed, however it tells the true story with real character, punch and panache, breaking your heart, as well as warming it in equal measure.

★★★★☆

"Spend Spend Spend" plays at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre until the 11th of January