NEWS TICKER
Published on
May 12, 2021
Proud - new musical joins MTFestUK 2021 at Turbine Theatre
By
douglasmayo
New musical Proud, joins Paul Taylor-Mills’ highly celebrated annual festival of new musical theatre, MTFestUK 2021.
Proud, a new musical with music by Lee Freeman, lyrics by Mark Anderson, and book by Graham Lappin and Mark Anderson joins Paul Taylor-Mills’ highly celebrated annual festival of new musical theatre, MTFestUK 2021.
Proud replaces Daisy in the 2021 festival line-up, which unfortunately due to circumstances beyond the Turbine Theatre’s control is no longer able to be presented this year.
Proud is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, with musical direction by Ellie Verkerk. The cast includes Stephen Ashfield (The Book Of Mormon), Chris Draper (School Of Rock), Jordan Luke Gage (& Juliet/Bat Out Of Hell), Idriss Kargbo (Five Guys Named Moe), Freddie King (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Rebecca Locke (Heathers), Carl Man(Wicked) and Nick McLean (Wicked).
David has always been different. He really wishes he wasn’t. Despite the acceptance and unconditional love of his parents, his prayers are answered when he discovers the existence of ‘Reality Trek’, a conversion camp for gay men run by ex-gay Donald and his lord-abiding wife, Bernice. With faith on their side, they guide David and his camp campmates through the programme, but when the illegally-handsome Rory arrives late, David faces the ultimate test on the path to the straight and narrow.
The 2021 festival line-up includes an exciting and diverse selection of seven new musicals: Far From Heaven, #50days, The Man In the Ceiling, Millennials, HouseFire, Cake, Proud and Tony! (A Tony Blair Rock Opera).
The Festival sets out to promote quality artistry, showcasing new musicals to UK audiences with a view to elevating them to full production, and giving audiences an insight into the process of creating new work and the art of collaboration. Paul Taylor-Mills launched the inaugural MTFestUK season at The Other Palace in 2019, followed by a 2020 season in February last year, at The Turbine Theatre.
The 2021 festival runs from 17-29 May at The Turbine Theatre, London, before embarking on a ‘digital’ UK Tour from the 31 May – 4 July. The full list of venues and touring dates are as follows:
The Turbine Theatre, Battersea (Monday 17 May – Saturday 29 May)
Norwich Theatre Royal, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry & Birmingham Hippodrome (Monday 31 May – Sunday 6 June)
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton & the Mercury Theatre, Colchester (Monday 7 June – Sunday 13 June)
Curve Theatre, Leicester & Dundee Repertory Theatre (Monday 14 June - Sunday 20 June)
New Wolsey Theatre & Theatre Clwyd (Mon 21 June - Sunday 27 June)
Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Sheffield Theatres & The Lowry, Salford (Monday 28 June - Sunday 4 July)