THE WICKER HUSBAND
BY DARREN CLARK (MUSIC and lyrics) And RHYS JENNINGS(BOOK)
BASED ON A SHORT STORY BY Ursula Wills-Jones
THE WATERMILL THEATRE 12 MARCH- 4 APRIL 2020

Unfortunately, due to Covid 19 our opening night was also our closing night.

CREATIVES

Directed by Charlotte Westenra
Designed by Anna Kelsey
Puppetry Direction and Design by Finn Caldwell
Choreography by Steven Harris
Lighting direction by Hartley TA Kemp
Sound direction by Ella Wahlström
Musical Direction by Pat Moran
Production Photography Johan Perrson
Rehearsal Photography Pamala Leith

REVIEWS

“There are no weak links in Westenra's perfectly nuanced production.”
Whatsonstage ★★★★★

“An evening of pure enchantment.”
Spy in the stalls ★★★★★

“There’s much to enjoy in Charlotte Westenra's production.”
The Times ★★★★

“Gorgeous new folk musical The Wicker Husband is perfectly situated at the Watermill Theatre and simply must be given more opportunity to soar post-crisis”
There Ought to be Clowns

“Directed with verve and élan by Charlotte Westenra, this joyous production thoroughly deserved its spontaneous audience standing ovation. Not to be missed.”
British Theatre Guide

TRailer

REHEARSAL PHOTOS

PRODUCTION HISTORY

In 2018, THE WICKER HUSBAND was selected from over 223 international musicals as one of 8 to be showcased at the prestigious NAMT Festival of New Musicals in New York. Featuring leading Broadway actors including Kerstin Anderson (MY FAIR LADY, SOUND OF MUSIC), Jordan Donica (HAMILTON, MY FAIR LADY) and Motown legend Clifton Davis (ALADDIN) the showcase garnered much interest in a post-Watermill US transfer. That same year, four songs from the show were selected as finalists in the Fred Ebb Musical Theatre Award in the USA.

In 2016 THE WICKER HUSBAND was the winner of the MTI Stiles & Drewe Mentorship Award, which provided a year of one-to-one writing support from George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and culminating in an industry showcase with leading West End actors including Clive Rowe, Rebecca Trehearn and Tyrone Huntley at The Other Palace, London in 2017.

Also in 2016, the show was one of four finalists for the KSF Artist of Choice. My Wicker Man (a song from the show) was a finalist for the Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Prize and the show was awarded the Dunedin Operatic Executive Trust Award and the Little Angel Incubate Award.

The show has been workshopped with leading UK drama schools including the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Early dramaturgical workshops also included work at the Unicorn Theatre.

NAMT 2018

Songs from THE WICKER HUSBAND

THE OTHER PALACE 13 April 2017

THE WICKER HUSBAND won the inaugural MIT Stiles + Drewe Mentorship Award. The award enabled the team to develop the musical under George and Ant's expert guidance over a year through a writing retreat, weekly BMI workshops and two labs. This culminated in an industry showcase at The Other Palace. 

PRODUCTION

Directed by Charlotte Westenra 
Musical Direction by  Mark Aspinall
Sound by David Gregory
Stage Managed by Sharon Calcutt Cheadle
Award Managed by Lettie Graham (Stiles + Drewe) and Martin Jackson (MMD)

THE UNICORN THEATRE 26- 29 May 2015 

DARREN CLARK (LYRICS AND MUSIC)

Darren is a composer & lyricist living and working in London. Amongst his many shows, his recent sold out critically acclaimed musical THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (“The music makes you feel the thrumming nature of being” THE TELEGRAPH) was nominated for six Off West End Awards including Best Musical Director and Best Musical.

His political musical theatre work, DAY OF THE LIVING (“Heart breaking laments... violent, pitch-black lyrics” THE TIMES)

and THESE TREES ARE MADE OF BLOOD (“A musically rousing evening” THE GUARDIAN) received praise from critics and audiences alike.

His company Paper Balloon produces and writes original musical theatre for children, including THE GRUMPIEST BOY IN THE WORLD which continues to receive productions across Australia and throughout the USA.

Darren’s musical theatre writing has received numerous awards including selection to the NAMT Festival of New Musicals in New York, and The MTI Stiles & Drewe Mentorship Award. He has been a finalist for The Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre, The Perfect Pitch Award, The Old Vic 12 and The KSF Artist of Choice. He has been a three time finalist for the Cameron Mackintosh Composer in Residence Award and a three time finalist for The Stiles & Drewe Best New Song, winning runner up in 2015. Darren is also the recipient of the Musical Theatre Executive Trust Award and is a passionate advocate for promoting the work of new British musical theatre writers.

RHYS JENNINGS (book)

Rhys trained as an actor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has been working professionally in theatre and audio drama since graduating in 2009.


During a tour of a childrens’ show with Paper Balloon Theatre - for which Darren wrote the music - the two began writing their first show together, THE WICKER HUSBAND, and are currently working on their second, about the life and work of World War II codebreaker and computer scientist Alan Turing.
 


He has also written a large scale community theatre show in Burgaw, North Carolina called THE COLOR GOBLINS. As an actor, Rhys won the 2009 BBC Carleton Hobbs Award and joined the BBC Radio Drama Company for six months upon graduation.

FINN CALDWELL (PUPPETRY DIRECTOR)

Finn is a director, actor and puppeteer who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is co-founder of leading UK puppetry company Gyre & Gimble.

Most recently he was director of puppetry for Sheffield Crucible’s hit adaptation of LIFE OF PI.

As Gyre & Gimble, Finn’s work includes: co-director and puppet designer of THE FOUR SEASONS: A REIMAGINING (Shakespeare’s Globe), THE HARTLEPOOL MONKEY (UK tour) and THE ELEPHANTOM (National Theatre & West End). As well as co-designer/director of puppetry for THE 
GRINNING MAN (Bristol Old Vic & West End), THE LORAX (Old Vic) and RUNNING WILD (Chichester Festival Theatre, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre & UK Tour).


Other work includes: director of puppetry/movement for ANGELS IN AMERICA (National Theatre & Broadway), THE LIGHT PRINCESS (National Theatre), WAR HORSE (West End & Internationally), GROUNDHOG DAY (Old Vic & Broadway), THE BEAR (Pins & Needles), THE TEMPEST (Birmingham Royal Ballet), ALICE’S ADVENTURES UNDERGROUND (Les Enfants Terribles), ARIODANTE (Aix Festival & Dutch National Opera), DREAM SPACE (The Globe), RUBIES IN THE ATTIC (Riverside Studios), TOM THUMB (Edinburgh Festival & Tour -Fringe First Award winner) and SHREK THE MUSICAL (West End). Work as director includes: David Walliams’ FIRST HIPPO ON THE MOON (Les Petits Theatre Co.) and LARDO (Old Red Lion).


As a performer, Finn appeared in SAINT JOAN, WAR HORSE, OR YOU COULD KISS ME and Punchdrunk’s EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR (National Theatre), HAMLET AND JULIUS CAESAR (Royal Shakespeare Company), Complicite’s A DOG’S HEART (La Scala, Dutch National Opera, ENO), BLIND SUMMIT’S LOWLIFE (LIMF), MADAM BUTTERFLY (ENO and Metropolitan Opera), BRIGHTON ROCK (Almeida), ELEPHANT (BAC), ANTIGONE (Old Vic) and MACBETH (Albery). Films include ALICE (Ruby Films) and THE SUICIDE BROTHERS.


Finn has taught at schools, colleges and universities both nationally and internationally, as well as numerous theatre institutions including: National Theatre Learning, RSC, Chichester festival Theatre, Barbican, Almeida, RADA, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Italia Conti, East 15 and ALRA.

PAT MORAN (Musical Director)

Pat trained at California Institute of the Arts (USA), earning a Performer/Composer dual focus MFA. He relocated to the UK in 2015 and has worked extensively as a theatre multi- instrumentalist and music director. 



Recent credits include THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (Bridge Theatre); BRIEF ENCOUNTER (Kneehigh); HIRETH (O Region); TRISTAN & YSEULT (Kneehigh); 946: THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS (Kneehigh); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Shakespeare’s Globe); SLEEPING BEAUTY (Bristol Old Vic); and AN AUDIENCE WITH MEOW MEOW (Berkeley Repertory Theatre).

Pat served as resident composer / lyricist / musical director / multi-instrumentalist for the San Francisco Mime Troupe from 2007 – 2013. 
 
 He is an active composer currently working as a solo artist and with the projects; PM SYNDICATE; YESTERDAY’S CAMEl; and UNRELIABLE WITNESS.

STEVEN HARRIS (CHOREOGRAPHER)

Steven has recently been working as assistant choreographer on VICTORIA SEASON 2 and ENDEAVOUR, both for ITV. He was also the co-director and co-choreographer for the acclaimed production of Tim Rice’s CHESS (Union Theatre) where he received an OFFIE nomination for his choreography. For the West End, Steven was associate choreographer for Webber’s STEPHEN WARD (Aldwych Theatre, London) directed by Richard Eyre and choreographed by Stephen Mear. Other choreography credits include: LAUGHING MATTERS for Celia Imrie (St James Theatre, London/Crazy Coqs); AT THE MOVIES (Bridlington Spa Repertory); MY FAVOURITE YEAR (Bridewell); THE SOUND OF MUSIC (KLCC, Kuala Lumpur); MY FAIR LADY, KRUIMELTJE and EVITA (Netherlands tours/Stage Entertainment); I DO! I DO! (English Speaking Theatre, Vienna); WITH A SONG IN MY HEART (Salisbury Playhouse); THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (Sound Theatre and King’s Head Theatre, London); BLUEBIRDS (Cochrane Theatre and Above the Stag, London); IT’S CHRISTMAS CAROL (Hen & Chickens Theatre, London); SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (The Courtyard, Hereford); and MACK AND MABEL (Broadway Theatre, Catford).