COME FROM AWAY

I'm excited to say that I'll be heading to Cornwall's Minack Theatre in May as Musical Director for the first outdoor production of Come From Away. This will be my second show with the Redruth Amateur Operatic Society Trust (RAOST), one of Cornwall's leading amateur companies.

The musical Come From Away is based on a true story. It follows the people of Gander, a small Canadian town that suddenly welcomed thousands of stranded airline passengers after the September 11 attacks. The show focuses on the friendships, culture clashes, and acts of kindness that grew out of that unexpected moment. It had a successful run at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End, and so being the Musical Director for the first outdoor production is a real thrill.

I've been lucky enough to pick the brains of the original London production's Musical Supervisor, Alan Berry, about the show and the orchestration. Because it's very specific in terms of the musical style and sound, his knowledge of how the whole piece fits together has been such a help.

The director of Come From Away is Helen Hartshorne, and the sound designer is Nathan May. The production runs from Wednesday 25th May to Friday 29th May.