“Alan Turing: A Musical Biography” is a show that offers a detailed account of a remarkable life but falters in translating the emotional complexity of Turing’s journey. It reveals a collection of both little and pivotal moments from Turing’s life and presents them in a way that’s based on Turing’s own words, from his letters. While the production’s roots in the Edinburgh musical scene, and is still a small and theoretically intimate production, the lack of a resonating emotional core prevents it from reaching its full potential. Just like the main recurring symbol of the show, the poisoned apple, it leaves a bittersweet taste.
Full disclosure – I’m no Turing expert; my knowledge comes from a couple of YouTube videos and a Wikipedia page. Despite my limited study time, the emotional impact of Turing’s torments left a lasting impression. I anticipated a similar emotional depth from the show, but the musical leans more towards a detailed life description than an emotional journey. This, perhaps, diminished the overall experience, as the narrative barely delves into the significant LGBTQ+ aspect of Turing’s life and its repercussions.
Navigating Turing’s Odyssey: The Musical’s Ambitious Quest in 80 Minutes
But to start from the beginning, this musical covers the full life of Alan Turing – from his early school years, fascination with Snow White’s tale (subtle hint to an apple again), through his graduation, work on cracking the Enigma code and eventually, an early death. To tell anyone’s life’s tale in 80 minutes is a huge challenge – and Turing’s life is such a complex, fascinating story, that for a show like this, it could have been easier to probably cover just a slice of his life, and spend a bit more time letting the audience understand Turing more, and become more emotionally invested.
The current version of the show is its 4th variation, composed by Joel Goodman and Jan Osborne. Joel, a music teacher by profession, started working on this project in 2021, and the first version of the musical was quite a hit during the Edinburgh Fringe. Goodman used Turing’s original letters and academic papers, making it a proper passion project – and I could still feel hints of that original passion in this show. Unfortunately, it was not enough to make me truly feel for the main character of the play – I felt like the script presented Turing very much just on the surface, without diving into his real feelings or fears.
Love and Loss: The Untold Struggles in Turing’s Life
To me, Turing’s professional and personal lives had so much at stake – he was a genius, but also very much aware that his sexuality, when revealed, could cause him severe repercussions. He engaged in a relationship with a fellow Cambridge graduate and a Hut 8 colleague Joan Clarke, but broke the relationship once he decided to reveal the truth about himself. Nobody could imagine the emotional struggle of Turing at that time – yet, the show mentions the relationship and its ending briefly and without giving the event the weight it deserves.
I was surprised that the element of Turing’s chemical castration and its health repercussions were barely there – I had a feeling that if I blinked, I would miss this element of the play. As much as I tried to understand the concept for the show that doesn’t focus on Turing’s love life that much, this just was almost disrespectful to the LGBTQ+ community and Turing himself. There’s more justice to be included in the script, and more focus on the terrible things and events that Turing suffered.
Musical Peaks and Valleys: Finding Joy Amidst the Narration
Despite these shortcomings, there are moments to enjoy. Envisioning the future of AI creates a relevant connection with the audience in 2023, and the music, led by piano and backing strings, provides a suitable backdrop. However, more energetic variety is needed, especially during scenes like the bicycle trip in Germany – potentially the only truly uplifting moment in the play. A standout moment in the performance for me was the song sung by Turing and Christopher’s mother upon learning of his death. The use of Latin phrases in the lyrics adds a church-like, cathartic feel, creating a poignant atmosphere.
Both actors – Joe Bishop as Turing, and Zara Cooke in all the other roles, do their best. Cooke faces an incredible acting challenge, realistically creating a character of Turing’s mother, and shortly after, changing into a new costume and playing Turing’s partner. She delivers a fantastic vocal performance throughout all the roles. Bishop successfully creates the geeky, math-fascinated young man on stage, but I was hoping for a more emotions-based performance.
Costumes played a vital role in differentiating the settings, places, and ages of Turing here. The on-stage quick changes are executed with finesse, aiding the audience in navigating the intricate timeline.
With its unlimited potential, “Alan Turing: A Musical Biography” has a chance to become a hit, but it requires serious script revisions and music that better expresses the emotional weight of various events. As a passion project, there’s potential for it to evolve and captivate audiences. If you’ve seen the show, sharing your thoughts online could contribute to its improvement. If you haven’t, a trip to Riverside Studios might uncover a hidden gem – art is subjective, after all!
*I received the ticket to see the show in exchange for an honest review.
Alan Turing: The Musical Biography
Riverside Studios
MONDAY 15 – SATURDAY 27 JANUARY 2024
RUN TIME:
80 mins (no interval)
COMPANY:
Early Mornings Productions
DIRECTOR:
Jane Miles
CAST:
Joe Bishop, Zara Cooke
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