Dominion Theatre, London (Previews from 24 March 1986, Charity Preview 4 April 1986, Opening April 9th, 1986, Closed 16 April 1988)
Time The Musical logo
Devised & Created by Dave Clark Book, Music and Lyrics co-written by Dave Clark Book & Lyrics by David Soames Music by Jeff Daniels Set design: John Napier Lighting design: Andrew Bridge Sound design: Bobby Aitken & Jonathan Deans Production Musical Director: Mike Moran
The portrayal of ‘Akash’ by Laurence Olivier created & directed by Dave Clark Choreography by Arlene Phillips
This groundbreaking high-tech musical featured Cliff Richard (later David Cassidy) and Laurence Olivier (via projection).
The interior of the theatre was remodelled extensively to accommodate the set design by John Napier (a steel construction featuring a hydraulic lift). The character of Akash (performed by Sir Laurence Olivier) was projected onto a large blank head centre stage, on film. The projected head appeared like a hologram, and was billed as such by the show’s producers.
The show took around 3 months to build, with the final five weeks in the Dominion Theatre. The theatre was rewired to accommodate the large power demands of the lighting rig, and a computer was installed to control the 48 hydraulic axes of movement on the set, and the projection system.
The entire set for TIME was built on an old lift that already existed in the Dominion Theatre. After renovation and a rebuild, it was up to the job.
From ABTT News, December 1990
A High Court action was brought by Dave Clark’s production company, The Right Time Production Company Ltd, against Rank Theatres Ltd, claiming that Rank Theatres Ltd had failed to run an efficient box office at the Dominion Theatre consequently being responsible for the premature closure of TIME: The Musical and loss of box office income.
Documentary excerpt: Dave Clark and Time The Musical
Soundtrack Excerpt: Sir Laurence Olivier as Akash
‘Time’ by Freddie Mercury
Music video shot on the Time set at the Dominion Theatre
