The year is 1985. Brian, a working-class lad from Southend, is moving to Bristol University to study English, and has big dreams of going on the televised quiz show University Challenge. We follow him through his first year as he navigates class struggles, friendships and growing up, all while desperately trying to get a fellow student to fall in love with him.

Starter for Ten is based on the David Nicholls’ novel of the same name. It was originally staged at the Bristol Old Vic and is now doing a limited run at the Birmingham Rep. I had read the novel a few years ago and was really excited to see it adapted for the stage – and I was not disappointed!

Adam Bregman, in the role of Brian, is truly the star of the show. His presence is stellar in every scene he is in, and yet he lets the other characters have their moment in the spotlight. Brian Jackson as a character is insufferable and narcissistic in the book, but in the show he is a lovable young adult. As he makes his fair share of blunders and tries to find his feet in a new and unfamiliar world, it is much easier to root for him.

Imogen Craig as Alice is luminescent. She truly dazzles the audience with her introduction in ‘Touched by an Angel’ and her solo in ‘For the Story,’ where she recounts her gap year escapades. Will Jennings, who plays Patrick Watts, is also a phenomenal singer, especially in ‘Time to Quiz.’

The set design by Lee Newby is original and distinctive, using a patterned green and yellow square background that is evocative of the 70s and 80s. I also appreciated the bold coloured lighting, which gave the set a fresh and modern touch.

The show has a stunning original soundtrack by Hatty Carman and Tom Rasmussen. The music is inspired by 80s Britpop and manages to never have a dull moment. My favourites were ‘Time to Quiz,’ that plays as the ragtag group of four audition for a spot on the University Challenge team, and ‘Fresh Meat,’ which showcases Brian’s time in the flurry that is freshers’ week, as random student societies try to persuade him to join. As someone who got to experience the first year of university just two years ago, I really loved all the university-centred songs and plot lines; they were as realistic and relatable as you can get in a musical.

I would also like to commend Charlie Parham’s direction of the explosive fights Brian has with his university friend Rebecca (Asha Parker-Wallace), home friend Spencer (Christian Maynard) and his mum Irene (Mel Giedroyc) just before the climax of the show. They were emotionally charged and left the audience gasping in shock.

In my opinion, the aftermath of the big pivotal moment in the show (I won’t reveal any spoilers) felt rushed and glosses over the character development that Brian goes through in the book. This is my only complaint in an almost perfectly crafted show. The final closing song ‘Falling With You’ is hopeful and choral. Although not the most memorable and resembling many other closing songs (the Dear Evan Hansen finale comes to mind), I thought it was the perfect, neat little ending to the show.

Starter for Ten is a coming-of-age story about beginning university with grand expectations, only to be faced with a mellower, but sweeter, reality. It is about discovering who you truly are, without the ties of family and home weighing you down. It is about the heartache of losing the self that your loved ones at home know, and the iridescent joy of finding parts of yourself you never imagined.

I found the musical to be a joyful, life-affirming romp through the weird and wonderful years of university and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun evening out.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you would like to see Starter for Ten, you can buy tickets here!

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