“…the score is terrific and the melodies are very strong. Very commercial.”
…Sir Tim Rice
A New Family Musical
Music and Lyrics by Simon Etchell and Jerry Thornton Jones, Book by Sam Brady
HERE'S A SHORT MASHUP OF THE SONGS
And here’s a sneak peek from our first Script Workshop. (With West End actors performing some of the childrens roles).
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
CREATIVE TEAM
Sam Brady
(book)
Sam, a Midlands-based playwright and performer, won the Forever Manchester award for his comedy show Meditation Ruined My Life at the 2011 Manchester Arts Festival. His follow-up, Kindness, had a sold-out UK and Ireland tour. Sam’s debut play, Things I Say When I Don’t Say I Love You, was commissioned by The Lowry, and his interactive piece Upline was streamed online during the pandemic with support from Arts Council England.
Simon Etchell
(music & lyrics)
Simon is a composer specialising in children’s and light entertainment, with over seventy TV theme tunes to his name, including Catchphrase, Body Heat, Jeopardy, Wipeout, and 140 episodes of the BBC’s award-winning series Byker Grove. His music has also featured in the films Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, My Name is Bruce, and Shallow Grave.
Jerry Thornton Jones
(music & lyrics)
Kent-based Jerry’s TV credits include title themes for the Chelsea Flower Show and The Windsors: Auction of a Lifetime. He co-composed music for the Asian feature films Vanished and Staying Single, and also wrote the No. 2 hit Here Comes a Man for the multi-platinum South African band The Parlotones.
CHARACTERS
THE STORY
MARNIE AND THE KALEIDOSCOPE
In the town of Celebration, young Marnie struggles to fit in. Ever since losing her mother, Annagail – the town’s beloved former mayor – Marnie has felt most at home in the nearby Enchanted Forest. But when the new mayor, Penrad, and a ruthless businesswoman, Glitz, announce plans to mine for gold beneath the forest, Marnie senses something is terribly wrong.
As the town grows obsessed with wealth, colours begin to fade from the world, leaving everything in dull shades of grey. Determined to fix things, Marnie embarks on a daring adventure with Baz, a fast-talking squirrel, to uncover the truth behind the forest’s magic. With the help of an ancient kaleidoscope, a secret color-making laboratory, and the wisdom of the Dwellers, Marnie learns that the very balance of nature is at risk. Worse still, the mining has begun to awaken an ancient, insatiable monster – the Faardenblaader, a creature that once devoured all color and nearly consumed the world.
Armed with courage, friendship, and a bit of chaos, Marnie and Baz must outwit Penrad, stop Glitz’s destructive plans, and find a way to restore colour before it’s too late. But when the only solution requires the townspeople to give up their most prized possessions, will they be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?
Filled with toe-tapping songs, whimsical creatures, and high-stakes adventure, Marnie and the Kaleidoscope is a heartwarming musical about finding your voice, standing up for what’s right, and discovering that even the smallest act of kindness can change the world.
FULL SYNOPSIS / CAST / SONGS / SCRIPT / SCENE BREAKDOWN
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