Here’s a fascinating chance to see musicals in the making this Summer.
8 intriguing new pieces of musical theatre “work in development” can be seen live at The Turbine Theatre in Battersea, London from May 17-29, followed by a digital tour (online only- not in person) to twelve venues across the UK in the following five weeks.
The shows to be presented are below (with bookable links attached)
Far From Heaven
By Richard Greenberg, Scott Frankel & Michael Korie LIVE: 17th – 19th May
#50Days
Created and written by Thabo Stuck LIVE: 17th – 19th May
The Man in the Ceiling
By Andrew Lippa & Jules Feiffer LIVE: 20th – 22nd May
Cake
By McManus, Lloyd Malcolm & Taylor-Johnson LIVE: 20th – 22nd May
HouseFire
By P Burton-Morgan & Felix Hagan LIVE: 24th – 26th May
Millennials
Music, Book & Lyrics by Elliot Clay LIVE: 24th – 26th May
Daisy
By Caroline Kay
Proud
By Graham Lappin, Mark Anderson & Lee Freeman LIVE: 27th – 29th May
Tony! (A Tony Blair Rock Opera)
By Harry Hill and Steve Brown LIVE: 27th – 29th May
MY PICKS
Top of the group for me is FAR FROM HEAVEN, featuring a jazz-influenced score based on the haunting Todd Haynes film set in the late 1950s America. The big appeal here is the brilliant Scarlett Strallen in the lead role of Cathy, who will make this worth the ticket price alone for a chance to hear her sing.
Caroline Kay’s DAISY has certainly pricked my interest. After waking from a coma with no memory of life before her accident, a young woman must try to move on knowing little more than her name: Daisy. Writing challenges and stimulates her abilities of recall – but are some memories best left forgotten? This story explores several forms of loss, challenges the resilience of a family, and celebrates the healing-power of storytelling. What also intrigues me is that Kay herself performs as Daisy. ***UPDATE This show has now sadly been dropped from the festival without explanation.
HOUSE FIRE also catches the eye, being co-written by Felix Hagan, one of the SpitLip mastermind team behind cult comedy musical OPERATION MINCEMEAT. Its a frenetic gig-theatre show which features a trio of endangered animals who form a rock band to protest against the climate crisis.
Comedy-wise we are sure to find value in TONY!, following Harry Hill’s earlier brilliantly funny but short-lived I CAN’T SING! with Cynthia Erivo and Simon Lipkin, amongst others. Lipkin is featured in the cast of this new piece and he is always worth watching.
THE MAN IN THE CEILING boasts co-creator Andrew Lippa who is always bringing interesting work. His, and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer’s, show is about a 12 year old boy who wants nothing more than to be a cartoonist.
All of the shows will be available to see live in person on the dates mentioned above only at the Turbine Theatre in London, where social distancing measures will ensure audience and performers’ safety.
The shows will all then become digitally available for online viewing only through twelve “tour” theatres, which are:
Norwich Theatre Royal
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Birmingham Hippodrome
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Mercury Theatre, Colchester
The Curve, Leicester
Dundee Rep Theatre
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
Theatr Clwyd, Mold, Wales
Sheffield Theatres
Royal & Derngate, Northampton
The Lowry, Salford
PLEASE NOTE Tickets for all live shows at the Turbine in person will be £15. Tickets for all digitally-delivered shows online will be £12.50. Most shows last around 45minutes. Tickets are limited availability for live shows and also online. At venues offering digital only there is a one-week window to see the show of your choice, and after you have started watching you will then have 24 hours to finish watching that show. Tickets are per device.
Most shows will be available to watch globally. Shows are available on a mix of dates at different venues. Please check the individual theatre for the dates on which shows will be available.
You can find more details and booking information at the Turbine’s website here
