With music from Dolly Parton, “9 to 5” takes us back to the 70s, a time before working-from-home where people actually went into an office. Beeston Musical Theatre Group’s latest production opens with the title song, and the stage is immediately filled with singing and dancing which doesn’t let up for the next two and a half hours. This is a show packed with energy, fun and larger than life characters, all ably overseen by director Beth Yearsley. Whether you’re a fan of Parton’s music or not, there is still lots to enjoy here – a huge helping of comedy, alongside some more tender moments and a fierce feminist message, as Sara Evans-Bolger’s Violet seeks to take down her sexist creep of a boss Franklin (Craig Arme).
Evans-Bolger approaches the lead role with confidence and tenacity, hitting the ground running as she introduces new girl Judy (Brogan Jones) to the offices of the Consolidated company in the number ‘Around Here’. Determined to fix the misogynistic atmosphere within the business, she sets about trying to take Franklin down, with a hard-hitting number ‘One of the Boys’, whilst also juggling a budding romance with junior colleague Joe (Joseph Straw). Evans-Bolger and Straw share a duet (‘Let Love Grow’), accompanied by some wonderful choreography from two backing dancers which is a true highlight of the show.
Helping Violet in her fight against the boss is fellow secretary Doralee (Emily Owen), who has been the subject of vicious rumours suggesting she is having an affair with Franklin. She is tired of being treated differently because of her good looks, and laments this fact in the song ‘Backwards Barbie’, saying “I might look artificial but where it counts I’m real”. Emily adds true passion to her performance, with excellent vocals to boot, yet it is Jones’ Judy who delivers the standout moment of the night with her rendition of ‘Get out and stay out’, a ferocious song aimed at her cheating ex Dick (Thomas Judt). It’s a powerful ballad, and one of the only songs not given any sort of backing choreography – Jones’ performance warrants a stage to herself. It is especially powerful given that, for the rest of the show leading up to this point, Judy has been treated as a somewhat comic character. This number adds extra depth to our initial perception, echoing the strong message delivered during Owen’s earlier song.
As the sleazy boss, Arme treads the fine line between creepy and comedy, his song ‘Here for You’ making the audience grimace in its intention, before laughing at the delivery. One of the highlights of the first act sees the three secretaries imagine different ways of getting their own back on Franklin, with a trio of songs (‘Dance of Death’ set in a cocktail bar, ‘Cowgirl’s Revenge’ on a ranch and ‘Potion Notion’ evoking Disney’s Snow White) which all imagine various gruesome endings for the shady businessman. It is all accompanied by choreography from Fiona Cook, led by dance captains Alice Cammell and Abi Stott-Marshall, which is stellar throughout but is particularly impressive during this section, the large ensemble split into three groups (one for each of the ‘dreams’) before combining together to end this hilarious sequence.
There is added comedy thanks to Charlotte Drewett-Holden’s Roz, who has a secret crush on Franklin, and expresses this in a raunchy dream sequence (‘Heart to Heart’). But, as with all the characters in this musical, she is given extra depth in the second act, as she confesses to the audience that, outside of work, she has very little else in her life, in a neat inversion of the title song ‘5 to 9’. The music throughout is accompanied by an excellent band, directed by Adam Wright who is also on keys, while Dave Dallard and Jack Clark’s sound production ensures that everyone can be heard properly onstage and is never drowned out by the accompanying music. It is a very professional set-up for an amateur group, and one that should be commended.
Beeston Musical Theatre Group is one of those rare amateur groups where there is no weak link in the cast. Even smaller roles make their mark – Claire Farrand-Preston gets plenty of laughs as pretty-much-alcoholic Margaret, and David Artiss’ Bob has some great reactions to a few of his boss’s more near-the-knuckle comments. The plot becomes a little far-fetched in the second act, but it is all good fun, and with a meaningful message which is sure to strike a chord with many in the audience. This is yet another triumph for BMTG, and I look forward to seeing their production of ‘Anything Goes’ next year.
Tom Morley, November 2025
Review Round-up:
East Midlands Theatre: 9 to 5: the musical – 4 stars from EMT, who call this “an uplifting night out […], quick paced, boisterous, funny and energetically sung”
Kev Castle Theatre Reviews: 9 To 5 – the musical – Kev Castle is full of praise for this production, saying the show “is such fun and has such energy and is a massive hit with the audience”
Stacey’s Substack – 9 to 5 – The Musical – Stacey Ireson also gives the show a brilliant write-up, particularly commending director Beth Yearsley for “a fantastic job of tying what could be quite a chaotic and hectic show into something that felt very contained and slick”
Broken Legs Blog 