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| News from SchoolPlay |
| January 2012 |
Play of the Month BLACKOUT - OPERATION PIED PIPER An evocative musical, with a large cast, set in Britain 1939-43. It explores the life of an evacuee, torn from family and home and living with strangers; the death of her mother in a London bombing raid seems as remote as does her father when he comes to visit. In the end it is the parting from her guardians which is too difficult for any of them to handle. Mark Wheeller speaking about Blackout - Operation Pied Piper Blackout – Operation Pied Piper Blackout has an unusual history. Three of the songs (Blackout, Air Raid Lullaby and Sweeping to Victory) date back to 1977 and were written when I was only 18! I wrote the music. I wanted to be the next Lionel Bart (Oliver!), I think you can tell when you listen to them. The lyrics to Sweeping to Victory were written by the then Sunday Times Sports Editor Nick Mason. I’d never written a song with a proper writer before... the other two were written by friends of mine from school and college. They were written for a massive Queens Silver Jubilee community dance/musical production (Blackout) which was presented to much acclaim at the Lewisham Concert Hall with a cast of over 150. I used these songs as the basis for the first ever script I wrote using the ideas from Stantonbury Youth Theatre in Milton Keynes and the stories my mum and dad told me of their experiences of the WWII evacuation. We made a definite parallel with cast members whose parents had split up and used those experiences to generate many of the ideas/storylines. A number of songs were added to this version which was completed in 1981. One of the most significant additions to this production was the Eyes of a Child song which closes the show. It had originally been written for Olympia as the Year of the Child (1979). After its performance at Earls Court Olympia there was interest from Boney M to record it but to my knowledge this never happened. The slightly adapted lyric (again by Nick Mason) gave the musical Blackout a show stopping finale. It remains my favourite of my songs... and I still believe it will make me, and SchoolPlay Productions, our millions! I was determined to have the best actors in the musical so many of those parts do not have to sing solo. Equally the main singers do not have to act. This is rare in musicals but a great practical advantage for School/Youth Theatre groups. In 1982 I added the experiences of a number of real life evacuees as my first attempt at incorporating documentary evidence into the story. The success of these moments led to my first attempt at a full length documentary play Race to be Seen which in turn led to my most popular play to date: Too Much Punch For Judy. In 1995 Blackout was finished (well to the point it currently stands at). I integrated the oral testimony into the script (previously it was separate almost as a commentary/back up to the play). I also added a song Rock a Bye Rachel, which was the last piece of music I composed. After that computers came in and left me behind with my books of manuscript paper still remaining blank. By then I had gained the confidence to write the lyrics as well... so this is one of the few songs where both music and lyrics are by Mark Wheeller. The arrangements and backing track were completed in 2008 by Stuart Blackmore who was, in his youth nominated for the Young Composer of the Year award. They were based on the ones I did when I wrote the songs. It remains my best attempt at a “classic Musical”. It was written for Youth Theatres but I still think it has the potential to go much further... everyone who has seen it and speaks to me says it should be on the West End... well we can dream! Click on the play title to see full details and read online. |
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| NOW ON FACEBOOK |
SchoolPlay Productions now as it's own Facebook page We hope you will share your experiences, post reviews of your productions and upload photographs CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE The following titles also have their own Facebook pages. Blackout Operation Pied Piper No Place For A Girl Sweet F.A. The Most Absurd Xmas Musical in the World.......Ever! |
| A New Play | |
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SING NOWELL by Adrienne Howell A Fantasy for Christmas A fantasy journey through Christmas down the ages, Sing Nowell includes audience participation and even the interval can be part of the fantasy. Tommy wants to join in singing Christmas carols, but is rejected because he can't sing in tune. The mysterious Professor Nowell sends him on a journey to find his voice in time for Christmas. Click below to go directly to this show
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| NEW TITLE ADDED TO THIS POPULAR SERIES | |
Just arrived Julius Caesar We are pleased to announce that you can now purchase The Inessential Shakespeare by John & Leela Hort The Kabet Press through SchoolPlay Productions Ltd. Shakespeare in modern English Hamlet Ideal for the classroom or the school play, a good choice for amateur theatre groups, EFL students or as preparation for a theatre visit.
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| WINNING WITH SCHOOLPLAY PRODUCTIONS |
Congratulations to The Orpen Players of West Bergholt, Colchester, Essex. Winners of BEST YOUTH PRODUCTION BEST YOUNG ACTRESS BEST YOUNG ACTOR with their entry in the NORTH ESSEX THEATRE GUILD'S ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL 2010 WE'LL BE HOME TOMORROW by Wayne Denfhy
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| SAME MUSICAL NEW TITLE | |
BLACKOUT OPERATION PIED PIPER Mark Wheeller's wartime musical focusing on the plight of the evacuees in this famous "operation" is being re-launched under this new title (from one of the catchy songs) as part of the 70 years anniversary of the start of World War II. Previously known simply as BLACKOUT it was Mark's most performed musical in 2008. " The evocation of the period was so good that I spent the first act waiting for Vera Lynne's entrance." Hugh David: Times Educational Supplement. Click below to go directly to this show
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