The Last Five Years is a one act musical exploring the five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy travels backwards in time (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie travels forwards (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for an exquisite wedding song in the middle as their time-lines intersect. With its’ fourteen songs, simple staging and very little dialogue it has been described by some as more of a song cycle than a musical.

The Last Five Years was inspired by Brown’s failed marriage to Theresa O’Neill. O’Neill threatened legal action on the grounds that the story of the musical represented her relationship with Brown too closely. The legal action was only dropped when Brown changed some of the lyrics to make the connections less obvious. Written for two voices and a band of just six, the music is wonderfully varied, ranging from the witty and satirical to intensely passionate and moving ballads.

Tracey Gwynne and Tom Evans are performing The Last Five Years as a fund-raiser for Hitchin Thespians on 20th and 21st November, with Mike Paine heading up the six piece band that accompanies the show. This is a rare opportunity to see this little gem of modern musical theatre by one of Broadway’s best new composers Jason Robert Brown, so book early to make sure you get your ticket.