September 11 - 21, 2014 | Chapel Off Chapel

High Fidelity: The Musical is a big, brash project for Pursued By Bear and I was really impressed by the scale and detail of their production. While the show is a little known production on the Australian theatre circuit, this team might just have unearthed a libretto that will capture the attention of more producers.
— Mark My Words

Within the cluttered walls of Championship Vinyl, Rob Gordon re-evaluates his past relationships as he and his pathetic colleagues attempt to navigate life guided by the music they so love. Based on the best-selling novel by Nick Hornby, High Fidelity presents a pointedly observed commentary on love, loss and the male condition.

The Australian Premiere will be presented by Pursued By Bear at Melbourne’s Chapel off Chapel from 11 – 21 September 2014.

High Fidelity is a rock musical with an all original score by Tom Kitt.  Rob's girlfriend has left him, and although the split does not make his list of top-five breakups, he is determined to figure out what he did to sour the relationship.

Rob is the owner of the record store, where he sells music the old-fashioned way – on vinyl. He's a self-professed music junkie who spends his days at the store with his two employees, Dick and Barry. Although they have an encyclopaedic knowledge of music and are consumed with the music scene, it's of no use to Rob, whose needle skips the love groove when his long-time girlfriend, Laura, walks out on him.

He examines his failed attempts at romance and happiness, and the process finds him being dragged, kicking and screaming, into adulthood.

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this production from Pursued By Bear [is] both a pleasing and perplexing choice. For those of us who enjoy seeing musical rarities, this is an exciting opportunity to perhaps uncover an unappreciated gem, and for a show to find a new and more admiring audience.
— Theatre People

Director: David Ward
Assistant Director: Ketura Budd
Musical Director: Frankie Ross

Lighting Design: Brendan Jellie

Rob: Russell Leonard
Barry: Scott Mackenzie
Dick: Liam O'Byrne
Ian: Jason Bentley
Laura: Simone van Vugt
Liz: Lisa Woodbrook

Marie: Anisha Senaratne
Anna/Jacqui Allen: Alexia Brinsley
Sarah Kendrew: Becky Rhodes
Alison Ashworth: Louise Cumming
Penny Hardwick: Morgan Heynes
Charlie Nicholson: Caitlin Mathieson
Pale Young Men/Ensemble:
Caleb Jago-Ward
Thomas Russell
Kai Mann-Robertson
Ben Chisholm