Making a Musical: The Future of British Musical Theatre The Other Palace

It’s the eve of the mayoral election, and the kids of Hamelin aren’t happy. The mayor and owner of the local pie factory has imposed a music ban, and to make matters worse, there’s a serious rat problem. But, there have been whispers of a mysterious rat catcher in town. Can this curious stranger help Hamelin to find its voice once more? 
Pied Piper is a raucous musical re-imagining of a medieval fairy-tale. Featuring a hugely talented cast of beatboxers, musicians and special guest performances from the local community, get ready for an electrifying night of vocal wizardry for all the family.
Featuring songs ‘Welcome to Hamlin’ performed by the cast (Lead Rap Conrad Murray) and ‘I Wanna Sing’ performed by the cast (Lead Vocal Kate Donnachie).
Conrad Murray (he/him) Writer & Co-Director
Conrad Murray is a theatre maker, director, musician, rapper, beatboxer, writer and composer. As artistic director, he has led the BAC Beatbox Academy since 2008, innovating in hop hop/ beatbox theatre with various projects. 
His recent production Romeo & Juliet with the Polka Theatre and Beats & Elements , which he Co Directed and wrote, has been nominated for four Off West End awards including best music and production.
 
His production company for making new hip hop shows is called rODIUM LTD. 
 
He was recently the Musical Director and Composer on Michael Rosens’ An Unexpected Twist’, book by Roy Williams. 
His production with the BAC Beatbox Academy, Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster got 5 star reviews from The Stage, The Guardian and others. It won the Off West End award, Total Theatre award, and was the highest rated show of the Edinburgh Fringe, and won pick of the fringe at the Adelaide fringe festival.  It was adapted into a BBC film in 2020. Pilots’ Crongton Knights  (Musical Director was picked as one of the top theatre shows of the year by the Guardian in 2020.
 
He was chosen as part of the Stage’s top 100 people in their 2020 list which highlighted his show High rise State Of Mind with his theatre company Beats & Elements, and a finalist in The Arts Foundations theatre makers category. 
 
He was Beatbox Coach on Giles Terera’s The Meaning Of Zong  for the Bristol Old Vic. 
He was director for Connor Allen’s autobiographical Grime theatre experience Making Of A Monster for the Wales Millennium Centre. 
 
In 2022, his first published works were published by Bloomsbury/Methuen Drama, Making hip hop theatre and three original texts Beatbox & Elements – A Hip Hop Theatre Trilogy. 
 
He has collaborated and/or made work for various venues and institutions including Battersea Arts Centre, The National Theatre Studio, The Lyric Hammersmith, Mountview School of Theatre Arts, The Tate, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Camden People’s Theatre, Roundhouse, Theatre Royal Stratford East, UCL, The Courtyard Theatre.
@ rODIUMRecords/rODIUM
Follow The Other Palace: @TheOtherPalace
Are you writing a new musical in the UK? Consider submitting your show for the podcast: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/making-a-musical-podcast/ 


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It’s 1979 and David Starr is unquestionably one of the smartest, most talented sixth-formers in East Dulwich – he’s got a wild imagination, a vocal range to die for, and a bedroom plastered with posters of his beloved pop idols: Blondie, Sting, and Kate Bush. But being smart, talented, with a great taste in music may not be enough to get him through secondary school, where, to his great surprise, he’s just been given the female lead in the school play. The unconventional casting sends shockwaves through David’s small town, first with David, and then with his parents, his aunt, and his classmates.
Before long, it seems like everybody has an opinion on whether David should go on with the show, inspiring him to turn to his no-nonsense best friend Frances and his unlikely co-star Maxie, the enigmatic captain of the football team.
Based on the novel ‘Becoming Nancy’ by Terry Ronald.
Featuring songs ‘The Risk’ performed by Blake Patrick Anderson and ‘Just For Today’ performed by Bianca Claxton and Isaac Gryn.
For more information about George and Terry, visit:
https://bit.ly/MAM-Becoming-Nancy
Follow The Other Palace: @TheOtherPalace
Follow Becoming Nancy: @becomingnancy
Are you writing a new musical in the UK? Consider submitting your show for the podcast: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/making-a-musical-podcast/

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Faced with the backdrop of the First World War, the insular residents of Bryher can no longer escape the realities of life beyond the islands. It takes the innocence of youth – in the shape of plucky young Gracie Jenkins, and her sailing companion and confidant Daniel Pender – to try to blow apart the fear and hatred that threatens to destroy their community, lifting a powerful curse in the process. Adapted from the book by Michael Morpurgo.
Featuring songs ‘Glory Feels Hollow’ performed by Bella Barlow, Scarlett Bowcott, Lisa Bridge, Frankie Jones & Katy Shorten and ‘Shadows & Fog’ performed by Scarlett Bowcott, Frankie Jones & Matthew Ronchetti (Ensemble: Lisa Bridge, Vincent Pirillo, Katy Shorten & Duncan Smith).
Bella Barlow (she/her) Music
Trained at the University of Southampton & The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.  As composer & arranger, Musicals include: Christmas in the City (inspired from songs off of Barlow & Smith's Christmas album of the same name), Lock & Key (VAULT FESTIVAL 2018), and Vanya’s (a brand new Musical). She has written and performed internationally for several projects including at the United Nations and HRH Queen's 90th Birthday Celebrations. She is currently working on a new Musical with poet Pam Ayres. @Bella_Barlow / bellabarlow
Nikki Racklin (she/her) Book & Lyrics
Her commissions include Love Me To Death, an opera about Ruth Ellis, which was performed at the Barbican Pit Theatre and the Tête à Tête Opera Festival, and Deptford Wives, an adaptation of the award-winning radio play. Working alongside Ben Glasstone, Nikki is currently developing Mini: The Boy Who Played With Fire, a glam-rock-fuelled musical about Michael ‘Mini’ Cooper, and writing the lyrics to a stage-musical adaptation of Tracy-Ann Oberman’s BBC R4 drama Bette and Joan and Baby Jane, exploring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s deep-seated rivalry on the set of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, with music by James Cleeve. @nikkiracklin
Follow The Other Palace: @TheOtherPalace
Are you writing a new musical in the UK? Consider submitting your show for the podcast: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/making-a-musical-podcast/

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Feral Monster is a banging new musical about an unremarkable teenager. With a soundtrack mashing up grime, R&B, soul, pop and rap, the show follows Jax and her noisy, opinionated brain as they navigate love, identity, class and family. "We're trying to tell a story that is queer, that is Welsh, that is rural." Bethan Marlow. Commissioned and produced by National Theatre Wales.
Featuring songs ‘OMG’ and ‘Dal Fi’ performed by Lily Beau, Geraint Rhys Edwards, Carys Eleri, Rebecca Hayes, Nathaniel Leacock and Leila Navabi, recorded live at the Sherman Theatre.
Bethan Marlow (she/they) Book & Lyrics
Bethan Marlow is an award-winning writer from North Wales. Her highly acclaimed theatre credits include PIGEON (Theatr Iolo/Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), MOLD RIOTS (Theatr Clwyd) and NYRSYS (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru). Bethan’s current theatre commissions are with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Welsh National Opera.
Bethan is currently developing original TV drama series for Five Acts, World Productions and Film Nation. She is also working on two feel-good queer feature films: MADISON with the BFI and IEIE Productions and QUEER AS FOLK DANCING with Ffilm Cymru and Ardimages UK.
Bethan was recently selected for the Wscripted Cannes Screenplay List and BAFTA x BFI Flare mentoring scheme.
Nicola T. Chang (she/her) Music
Nicola T. Chang is a composer/sound designer who has recently worked on For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy (West End/Royal Court/New Diorama) and My Neighbour Totoro (RSC/Barbican). @nicolatchang
Follow The Other Palace: @TheOtherPalace
Are you writing a new musical in the UK? Consider submitting your show for the podcast: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/making-a-musical-podcast/

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In Redcliffe, Bristol William is feeling the pressure to find a wife whilst also being the breadwinner to his family. His mothers nagging doesn't help. When he meets Richard, he unlocks a world he had never dared to explore before and it’s clear there is no going back. Based on the true events of William Critchard and Richard Arnold in 1753, Redcliffe is an epic tale of forbidden love during the persecution people faced for hundreds of years.
Featuring songs ‘Pressure Pot’ performed by Jordan Luke Gage and Rebecca Lock and ‘Hurricane’ performed by Rebecca Lock, recorded live at MTFestUK 2024, Turbine Theatre.
Jordan Luke Gage (he/him) Book, Music & Lyrics
Jordan most recently originated the role of Clyde Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde (Arts Theatre/Garrick). Prior to this he originated the role of Romeo in the Olivier Award winning &Juliet at The Shaftesbury Theatre. His other West End credits include Strat in Bat Out Of Hell at The Dominion Theatre and JD in Heathers at Theatre Royal Haymarket. His television credits include Prince James The Royal Kill List (Sky), Adrian Barber in Cilla (ITV), and Luc in Cucumber (Channel 4). Jordan plays guitar and writes music and this is his first musical writing project. @jordanlukegage
Follow Redcliffe: @redcliffemusical
Follow The Other Palace: @TheOtherPalace
Are you writing a new musical in the UK? Consider submitting your show for the podcast: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/making-a-musical-podcast/ 

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Season 5 Making a Musical: The Future of British Musical Theatre Podcast Lineup
Making a Musical podcast returns for Season 5 with an exciting lineup! Each episode will feature music and exclusive interviews with the writers and creatives of new musicals at varying stages of development. Episodes to be released from 22 April 2024.
Avalon The Old Legend, A New Musical 
Music & Lyrics by Callum Shannon.
Avalon follows the classic tale of the tragic destiny of soon-to-be King Arthur and his half-sister Morgan, through the lens of our wizardly charismatic narrator, Merlin.
Becoming Nancy
Book by Elliot Davis. Music by George Stiles. Lyrics by Anthony Drewe.
Additional Music & Lyrics by Elliot Davis, Terry Ronald & George Stiles.
Based on the novel by Terry Ronald.
It's 1979 and David Starr is unquestionably one of the smartest, most talented sixth-formers in East Dulwich – to his surprise, he’s been given the female lead in the school play which sends shockwaves through David’s small town.
FANGIRLS 
Book, Music and Lyrics by Yve Blake. 
Meet Edna: she’s 14, she’s a misfit, and she’s in love with Harry. There’s just one problem: Harry’s in the world’s biggest boy band and doesn’t know she exists. Exactly how far is she prepared to go in the name of love?
Feral Monster
Written by Bethan Marlow. Composed by Nicola T. Chang.
Commissioned and produced by National Theatre Wales.
A banging new musical about an unremarkable teenager. With a soundtrack mashing up grime, R&B, soul, pop and rap, the show follows Jax and her noisy, opinionated brain as they navigate love, identity, class and family. 
Pied Piper
Conceived by Conrad Murray (Writer) & Lara Taylor
A brand new hip-hop musical. It’s the eve of the mayoral election, and the kids of Hamelin aren’t happy. The authorities have imposed a music ban, and there’s a serious rat problem. But can the mysterious rat catcher in town help?
REDCLIFFE
Written by Jordan Luke Gage.
Based on the true events of William Critchard and Richard Arnold in 1753, Redcliffe is an epic tale of forbidden love in spite of the persecution people faced for hundreds of years. 
The Night our Parents Disappeared
Book & lyrics by Andy Room. Composed by Oli Rew.
Jaz’ parents have vanished. Now, with the help of teenage inventor Melanie, she must work out where they’ve gone and how to get them back. And what’s going on with those ninja teddy bears.
We’ll Have Nun of It
Book by Rosie Dart. Music, Lyrics and Book by Finola Southgate.
It’s 1967 – against this new era, four friends navigate life at St Anne’s Convent School. But as opinions collide and feelings towards one another shift, the group’s final year doesn’t play out as planned.
Why the Whales Came
Books & Lyrics by Nikki Racklin. Composed by Bella Barlow. 
Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo.
In the shadow of WW1, the insular residents of Bryher are terrified of the solitary ‘Birdman’. It takes the innocence of youth, to blow apart the fear and superstition that threaten to destroy the community, lifting a long-standing curse in the process.

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