Urinetown

A senior production that was uncannily well-timed. Mark Hollman’s Tony Award winning musical satire focused on a water shortage so acute that citizens had to pay to pee. Coming in the aftermath of Tunbridge Wells having no water for a week in December 2025, the irony was lost on no one. 

But Urinetown is also a funny and engaging comic musical which gave full leeway to a large and talented cast to eke out maximum hilarity. The central premise of a hero (Max Maclean’s Bobby Strong) supported by a pot pourri of downtrodden citizens bent on overthrowing the might of the Urine Good Company (led by Oliver Coleman Smith’s Caldwell B Cladwell) was ludicrous but brilliantly conceived. This was goodies versus baddies at its comic best. The addition of a corrupt police force (with George Russell-Ross and Carlo Cureton powerfully to the fore) out to thwart the citizens added a hysterical level of farce to proceedings. 

The production worked because the set plays were genuinely funny and the acting took full licence, particularly in the hands of Rafi Tootal (Little Saul), Alfie Playford (Soupy Sue – the clue is in the name) and Zac Scarborough (Hot Blades Harry). With a great supporting cast, the slapstick timing and the great one-liners hit their mark again and again. The result was a show where we rooted for the underdog, were shattered by Bobby’s untimely demise and scandalised (in a panto way) by the cruelty of Caldwell B Cladwell, and Officers Lockstock and Barrel and their underlings. 

Connie Macmillan, as Hope Cladwell, brought sensitivity and humour to her role as the femme fatale, falling for Bobby and thus crossing the divide between goodies and baddies. And creeping through the gags and the songs was a theme of disgust at over-population, rampant capitalism and exploitation. This was musical satire at its best. 

The strength of Skinners’ productions is also underpinned by sheer professionalism. The context of set, lighting and music were critical to the success of this production. Mike Taylor’s set accommodated a large cast in a very small space whilst Simon Hendry’s band led an ensemble of varying musical abilities impeccably, resulting in a memorable musical evening. 

Finally, to our Drama department, led by Helen Kirk and Ellie Hill. They are brave, hard-working, at times inspiring, and they bring out the best in everyone they work with. More importantly they ensure that everyone enjoys themselves. It is very clear that this lot had the time of their lives, something that rubbed off on audiences over four damp nights in January. 

Molly Wesson