The Addams Family comes to Titchfield Festival Theatre this October with its fantastic mix of characters, laugh out loud comedy, big chorus numbers and dancing for a fabulous feast of entertainment: offering everything that a musical should be! The show is also the first musical in TFT’s new Arden Theatre in St Margarets Lane, Titchfield.

Wednesday Addams is Morticia and Gomez’s daughter – the ultimate Princess of Darkness. She is all grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows…. she’s fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family.

With his cherished Morticia in the dark will Gomez manage to keep his daughter’s secret until the two families meet for a fateful dinner with hilarious consequences? Join them, plus Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley and more for a heart-warming story of love, family and friendship… with a twist!

Jody Brown, The Addams Family’s director spoke to Simon Frost:

Simon: Is this your first TFT production as a director? If so, what are you particularly looking forward to in directing?

Jody: The Addams Family is my second show at TFT working as both the director and choreographer. My first show was Rent. I then choreographed for a number of musicals and plays with TFT throughout the year. Addams Family is an exciting opportunity due to the satire nature of the show and the contrast to previous shows I have worked on.

Simon: What do you particularly like about The Addams Family?

Jody: The Addams Family is iconic. I remember watching the original films as a child to now watching the new Wednesday TV series. I love the idea of bringing aspects of something so well known to life on stage. Every character within the show is unique and brings something special to the dynamic of the show as a whole. Seeing how they all interact and the naturally funny moments it creates are something I particularly enjoy.

Simon: Why did you choose to direct it?

Jody: I chose this show because it has all the makings of a real spectacle of musical theatre. The singing breaks off into 7 part harmonies with a really tricky Lippa score. The acting needs to be simultaneously melodramatic but relatable and real, finally, the opportunities for full scale dance routines are in abundance! It’s a true showcase of triple threat musical theatre.

Simon: What will the audience particularly enjoy about the show?

Jody: I think the audience will enjoy seeing everything they already love about the well-known Addams Family characters. The cast are incredible and are embedding the qualities of their quirky characters in a way that creates some real belly laugh moments. Top this off with their amazing vocal abilities and choreography using a broad range of styles - there’s really something for everyone!

Simon: The Addams Family will be the first musical show to be performed in the new Arden Theatre. How do you feel about that?

Jody: Addams will be the first musical in the Arden. I have stood on the massive empty stage a few times during rehearsals and have felt a wide range of emotions. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t felt nervous about being the first TFT musical in this impressive new theatre - I definitely have! But mostly I’m so excited for all the new things the space has to offer - the revolve, the trap door, the pit for our 10 piece live band! There is so much potential and it will only add to what is already shaping up to be an incredible show. I’m looking forward to standing back and watching opening night and feeling the pride that comes with seeing everything come together in such a remarkable way.

Simon: The Addams Family is described as a "heart-warming story of love, family and friendship… with a twist". Tell me more....

Jody: Ever brought your new partner home to your parents and worried about whether they’d all get along? It’s terrifying, right? You have to warn them that your Dad might be a little stand-offish and you have to warn your parents to behave. You love them, but you know they are different to what your family is expecting.. now imagine that if you were Wednesday Addams, and your parents were Gomez and Morticia Addams… and you had a zombie as a butler! Love is a complicated thing, relationships, friends, family. Every dynamic is different and works in many different ways. But ultimately we all want to just be loved and accepted for exactly who we are. The Addams Family highlights this in a way that shows it’s perfectly okay to ‘go against the norm’ with a real mix of dynamics within the characters and is full of the comedy that the show is known for.

Simon: Finally Jody, which is your favourite song from the show - and why?

Jody: This is a tricky question as there are just so many! Every song brings something different, and adds something new to the show. All the leads own their songs and bring so much character and life to their performances. Personally, as a dancer myself, I’d have to say the big chorus numbers are my favourites as I have been able to include some complex choreography which will look stunning. Partner that with our whole casts sheer talent and remarkable vocals, they really are show stopping numbers.

Thank you Jody.

The Addams Family performs from 4 – 14 October 2023 in the Arden Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield. For more information including booking tickets please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/ or contact our Box Office on 0333 666 3366.