But in the second half, as the dots connect between the three stories, the musical comes together. Bush gently questions Park Hill’s complex history and controversial present, celebrating Poppy’s new life while wondering at whose expense she can start over in a plush new flat. Mostly, though, Standing at the Sky’s Edge is a heartfelt exploration of home in all its guises.

I wasn’t very precious about anything and I thought it would be interesting to see what another creative team would do with the songs,” he said. “I was involved, but Chris and others’ contribution was far bigger than mine.” He meant that he didn’t want it to be what he called a musical musical. He warned me that I’d be dead if I allowed that to happen,” Lord told us. “He was joking but I knew what he meant.” Price, Simon (6 May 2012). "Review: Richard Hawley, Standing At the Sky's Edge". The Independent on Sunday. London, England: Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022 . Retrieved 28 October 2012.Olivier Award-Winner 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' Reveals West End Transfer". Deadline Hollywood. 3 April 2023. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. The musical (named after Hawley's 2012 album of the same name) begins in 1961 and tells the story of three families over sixty years living in Park Hill, a council housing estate in Sheffield and features both new and existing songs by Hawley. It’s taken over 40 years to make it what it is. At many points it looked like it would close when they fell on leaner times but they worked to survive and it’s now a thriving business. It employs over 100 people, all very lovely people, and it provides. I hope to God that the last time I played in December isn’t the last time I step foot over the threshold.” There’s more to it than that, though, and Bush gradually builds up a more complicated picture: a city that went into decline not just because of the closure of its steel mills, but because of men who struggled to get over the loss of their old roles; salt of the earth residents of the flats who turned a blind eye to social cleansing that occurred prior to gentrification.

The show received eight nominations for the 2023 Olivier Awards, making it the most nominated musical of the season. [13] Year Lord came up with the project after hearing about electric graffiti created by Jason Lowe at Park Hill asking his lover to marry him. “I was listening in inadvertently and I was just gripped by the story,” Lord recalled.Rebecca is amazing,” Hawley told NME. “You can throw anything at her and she’ll just perform it so well – like she’s been singing it for years. James, Gareth (8 May 2012). "Richard Hawley Album Review". Clash Music . Retrieved 2 September 2012.

a b Millward, Tom (28 February 2023). "My Neighbour Totoro and Standing at the Sky's Edge receive most nominations at 2023 Olivier Awards". WhatsOnStage . Retrieved 28 February 2023.There's A Storm A-Comin' (Full Version)" (The original shorter version was released on 2009's "False Lights From The Land" EP) – 5:33 Early attempts at the show didn’t go to plan. By this time Rob Hastie had taken over at Sheffield Theatres and he suggested that they meetChris Bush, a local playwright. Within 48 hours Bush had come up with a “pretty good treatment” said Lord. I need to stop playing live for a while and record some of these songs that I’ve got,” he revealed. “I don’t know [what it will sound like] yet and won’t until I’m there. I don’t want to put any limits on it by saying, ‘Oh, it’s going to be this’. The multi-award winning new musical STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE – winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production and the South Bank Sky Arts Award – transfers to the West End following sold-out runs at the National Theatre and Sheffield Theatres.​ Hardy, Tony (14 May 2012). "Review: Richard Hawley – Standing at the Sky's Edge". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 2 September 2012.

Standing at the Sky's Edge is the seventh studio album from English musician Richard Hawley, released in the UK on 7 May 2012 and in the US on 28 August 2012. The album is markedly different from Hawley's previous efforts, often relinquishing softer instrumentation in favour of squalling guitars. As with all of Hawley's previous albums, the title obliquely refers to a location in his native city of Sheffield, in this case Skye Edge, a hillside area with views over the city centre and formerly known for its crime-ridden estates but largely redeveloped in the mid-2000s. [2] [3]Standing at the Sky's Edge was first performed at Sheffield Theatres in 2019, when it won Best Musical Production at the UK Theatre Awards and the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Theatre. It was revived in 2022, before transferring to the National Theatre, London, directed by Robert Hastie. Studarus, Laura (7 June 2012). "Richard Hawley Announces Standing at the Sky's Edge Release Date". Under the Radar . Retrieved 28 October 2012. a b Wallace, Wyndham (23 April 2012). "Review of Richard Hawley – Standing at the Sky's Edge". BBC Music . Retrieved 28 October 2012. Hawley also said that he had “no plans as of yet” to join Arctic Monkeys on stage again at their upcoming Sheffield dates, but heaped praise upon their 2021 album ‘ The Car‘. a b Hyden, Steven (29 June 2012). "Review: Richard Hawley – Standing at the Sky's Edge". Pitchfork . Retrieved 28 October 2012.