Chariots Of Fire On Stage

Introduction

The return of the Olympic Games to London in 2012 renewed interest in the film and music of “Chariots Of Fire” (1981), the award-winning historical drama about two British athletes competing at the 1924 Olympic Games. The film returned to cinemas throughout the UK, was released for the first time on high-definition blu-ray, and film director Hugh Hudson came up with the idea to stage a play based on his film. Being good friends with Vangelis he asked him to revisit his film score and compose new music for the play.

“Chariots Of Fire On Stage” opened on the 9th of May 2012 at the Hampstead theatre in London with preview performances, to officially premiere on the 22nd of May. Based on the true story of two young track athletes, the roles of Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, the son of an immigrant Lithuanian Jew who runs to overcome prejudice, were played by Jack Lowden and James McArdle. The story of the play remained close to the original, but took the liberty to adjust some details. At the Hampstead theatre the two-and-a-half hour play was centered around a round Olympic track with a double revolving stage, and performances continued there until June 16th. On the 23rd of June the play transfered to the Gielgud Theatre in the West End district, where the stage setting immersed the audience in the play by creating running tracks through the seating area. An official gala evening was organised at the Gielgud in the presence of Vangelis on the 3rd of July.

Inevitably Vangelis’ iconic main theme of ‘Chariots Of Fire’ was featured in the play, as well as other familiar themes from the film such as ‘Eric’s Theme’ and ‘Abraham’s Theme’. Nevertheless most of the music heard in the play was original and composed uniquely for the stage production, sufficient material to justify the release of a soundtrack album on the 23rd of July 2012. According people that saw the play all of the music featured in the performance was also included on the album.

On the 26th of July, just before the opening of the Olympic Games, a torch relay event passed the Gielgud Theatre and Vangelis appeared in public in front of the theatre to salute the passing olympic flame. The next day the epic theme of ‘Chariots Of Fire’ was prominently used during the opening ceremony of the Games, after which it became an unofficial Olympic theme when it was played at every medal ceremony.

Performances at the Gielgud Theatre ultimately stopped on the 5th of January 2013. As of yet the play has never been revived, as an initiative to take the play back on tour in the UK in 2026 was unfortunately abandoned.

Details and credits

Title: Chariots Of Fire On Stage
Year: 2012
Country: UK
Length: 150 minutes including a 20 minute interval
Produced by Hugh Hudson and Barbara Broccoli.
Directed by Edward Hall.
Stage adaptation by Mike Bartlett.
Music by Vangelis.
Additional music: Jason Carr
Set designer: Miriam Buether
Costumes: Michael Howells
Choreography: Scott Ambler
Lighting: Rick Fisher
Sound: Paul Groothuis
Casting: Suzanne Crowley and Gilly Poole.
Associate director: Oliver Rose

Cast (Hampstead Theatre)

Jack Lowden - Eric Liddell
James McArdle - Harold Abrahams
Tam Williams - Lord Andrew Lindsay
Mark Edel-Hunt - Aubrey Montague
Nickolas Grace - Master of Trinity College at Cambridge University
Simon Williams - Master of Caius College at Cambridge University
Nicholas Woodeson - Sam Mussabini
Natasha Broomfield - Jennie Liddell
Savannah Stevenson - Sybil Evers
Antonia Bernath - Florence Mackenzie
Matthew Pearson - Sandy McGrath
David Newman - the Prince of Wales
Sam Archer, Joe Bannister, Gareth Charlton, Henry Davis, Lloyd Everitt, Daniel Fraser, Leemore Marrett Jr, Simon Slater and Paul Tinto.