★★★★★ An absolute triumph, perfectly organised and highly entertaining.
From Bond with Love at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre Studio was a hot affair in more ways than one, as the heat outside matched with the warm and inviting atmosphere within.
The intimate space added to the ‘up close and personal’ approach of the show – a one-night-only showcase that managed to shrink the massive, cinematic world of 007 into an high-octane performance, leaving the audience completely captivated.
The evening was anchored by Lichfield Radio’s own charismatic Tom Roberts, who has starred in Coronation Street and 2point4 children, among many other acting roles over the years. He kept the energy moving effortlessly between numbers with sharp wit and fascinating behind-the-scenes film trivia, and even belted out a Bond classic!
But the undisputed emotional high point for cinema fans was the appearance of special guest star Madeline Smith (the iconic Miss Caruso from Live and Let Die), who delighted the audience by talking about her experience of working with Roger Moore and shared some inside information on that famous scene where Bond unzips her dress using a magnetic watch. Having genuine Bond royalty in the room brought an undeniable layer of authentic glamour and nostalgia to the Lichfield stage, as Madeline shared first-hand memories of the golden era of the franchise.
And then, of course, there was the music! Under the direction of Mr Gladstone “G” Wilson on keyboards, the live band with Rich Bates on guitar, Ben George on drums and Rob Jones on electric cello was spectacularly tight. Recreating some of the most complex, brass-heavy orchestral arrangements in music history with a smaller live ensemble is no easy feat, but they nailed it, while fighting the heat at the same time!
The vocal arrangements travelled across 60 years of cinematic history with show-stopping, powerhouse renditions of Shirley Bassey’s Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever that literally shook the studio walls. While beautifully textured, atmospheric performances of Adele’s Skyfall and Billie Eilish’s No Time to Die proved just how well these contemporary tracks hold up in a live theatre environment.
The vocalists – Clare Andress, Sarah Riches and Zakk Dienn (referred to as “The Man with the Golden Tonsils”!) – moved from the sultry, jazz-infused styling of the 1960s to the haunting, minor-key melodies of the 21st-century themes without skipping a beat.
While independent tributes can sometimes feel scaled back, this production felt incredibly polished. The combination of high-end costume changes (featuring some seriously glamorous gowns), a dynamic light show and a perfectly curated playlist made excellent use of the Studio’s intimate setting. It felt less like a tribute act and more like an exclusive, red-carpet VIP lounge.
From Bond with Love delivered exactly what it promised: pure movie magic, exceptional musicality, and a healthy dose of nostalgia. For Lichfield theatregoers, it was a masterful celebration of some of the finest commercial song writing ever recorded.