WELCOME TO THE PERFECT PITCH WEBSITE
We are a not-for-profit company dedicated to the development of new British musicals through readings, workshops and showcases in collaboration with a network of partners within the UK.
Please scroll down for ALL our LATEST NEWS for 2011/2012
JANUARY 2012 - AUDITIONS
We are holding general auditions looking for professional musical theatre performers for all our forthcoming workshops. Click here for more information
JANUARY - MARCH 2012 - WORKSHOPS
We have a lot of exciting workshops coming up over the next few months including:
BACK TO REALITY by Tom Bruno-Magdich & Philippa Waller
A week in partnership with ARTS EDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS (February)
PIECES OF STRING by Gus Gowland
A week in partnership with ARTS EDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS (February)
FROM UP HERE by Aaron Lee Lambert
A 2 day workshop in preparation for the June production at South Hill Park (January)
DEFECT by Craig Adams & Claire Prenton
A week in partnership with THE MTA and a second week in partnership with ARTS EDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS (January / February)
NO SLEEP FOR THE HAUNTED by Geoff Page
A workshop and workshop production in partnership with the Lowry, Manchester (March)
SPRING 2012 - LIFT ALBUM
(poster design - C2C)
We are so excited to announce the forthcoming concept album of LIFT written by Craig Adams based on an original idea by Craig Adams & Ian Watson (and showcased in PP 2008). The show is currently best known for the song "Lost In Translations" which has been performed by Kerry Ellis and also recorded on Julie Atherton's most recent album. The LIFT album will feature a host of West End performers supported by an ensemble of students from The Musical Theatre Academy. Supported by Perfect Pitch, the album is intended to launch the show in preparation for a potential 2012/2013 full production. back to top
SPRING/SUMMER 2012 - FROM UP HERE, South Hill Park
(poster design - Target Live)
From Up Here by Aaron Lee Lambert will have its first full production June 2012 at South Hill Park Arts Centre and the performance will be streamed live on line.
The production began as a collaboration by 8 students at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Adam Day Howard, Lucy Hutchison, Aaron Lee Lambert, Benjamin Murray, Colette Neill, Adrianne Salmon, Lindsay Scigliano & Shona Wildman.
It was then taken onto the Perfect Pitch development network with 4 of the original writing team Adam Day Howard, Aaron Lee Lambert, Benjamin Murray and Adrianne Salmon and formed part of the 2009 Perfect Pitch showcase.
Aaron Lee Lambert has since taken on the project as sole writer and we have continued its development within the Perfect Pitch network and added it to our licensing catalogue. Ron McAllister, the chief executive of South Hill Park Arts Centre saw the show in the 2009 showcase and is now working in collaboration with us towards the 2012 production.
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DECEMBER 2011 - THE LOST CHRISTMAS, WATERLOO EAST THEATRE
(poster design - C2C)
The Lost Christmas, written by Laurence Mark Wythe and directed by John Brant will open at the Waterloo East Theatre on Tuesday 6 December 2011 for a limited run. Producer, Stephen McGill first saw the show in 2008 when it featured in the Perfect Pitch showcase staring Suranne Jones and Jayne Wisener. We are delighted that he and co-producer Ffion Jones (for Poppy Productions) have chosen to produce the London premiere of the full show which is now part of our licensing catalogue.
The cast will include Erica Birtles, Michael Hobbs, Phil Pritchard, Natalie Morgan, Kate Brennan, Greg Herst, Stephen Oliver-Webb, Tim Heath & Natalie Law.
For more details and to book tickets please visit Waterloo East's website www.waterlooeast.co.uk
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DECEMBER 2011- THROUGH THE DOOR, OFF-BROADWAY
(poster design - Target Live)
A staged reading of Through the Door will be at the Roy Arias Off-Broadway Theater on December 19th this year.It will feature a fantastic cast including Clark Johnsen from the Broadway cast of Book of Mormon as Jean Pierre.
Through the Door by Judy Freed & Laurence Mark Wythe was one of the first shows in the Perfect Pitch Development network and was part of the 'Pilot' development progamme in 2008 in partnership with The Hazlitt Arts Centre, Maidstone.
The show was part of our 2008 showcase and was then presented as a Gala concert at Trafalgar Studios 1 in 2009 staring Julie Atherton, Paul Keating & Oliver Hembrough
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OCTOBER 2011- LAUNCH OF ACOUSTIC OVERTURES - the songs of Dougal Irvine
Acoustic Overtures, produced by SimG Records, is a collection of songs written by British composer Dougal Irvine and arranged by Peter White. The album features Julie Atherton, Samantha Barks, Annalene Beechey, Daniel Boys, Sarah Earnshaw, Ashleigh Gray, Ross Hunter, Michael Jibson, Sarah Lark, Rebecca Lock, Cassie McIvor, Amy Pemberton, Stuart Matthew Price, Lauren Samuels & George Ure.
Dougal has collaborated with Perfect Pitch on a number of occasions and his debut show "Departure Lounge" featured in our first showcase back in 2006. We are proud to have supported the production of the album which includes songs from Guilt (2007 PP showcase) and In Touch (2009 PP showcase).
Click here for MP3 samples and to buy the album
"I am proud to be a patron of Perfect Pitch which has helped Dougal develop "In Touch" many numbers from which you will hear on this album. The coming together of Dougal and an organisation that exists to serve just such a unique and existing talent makes my heart glow. Listen and enjoy." STEPHEN FRY
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SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2011
THE GO-BETWEEN - West Yorkshire Playhouse, Derby Live & Royal and Derngate, Northampton
We have been delighted to read such fantastic reviews for the premiere of The Go-Between at West Yorkshire Playhouse which opened September 9th. The production will continue to run for the next two months at Derby Live and then The Royal and Derngate, Northampton. All details and links to purchase tickets are below.
REVIEWS: TELEGRAPH *****
TIMES ****
THE PUBLIC REVIEWS ****
THE STAGE - Mark Shenton
Left:
Sophie Bould (Marian) and Edward Cooke (Leo Colston) in The Go-Between at the Courtyard Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds.
Photo: Robert Day
THE GO-BETWEEN DATES
9th September - 1st October
West Yorkshire Playhouse
6th October - 29th October
Derby Live
1st November - 19th November
November Royal and Derngate, Northampton
The Go-Between is a musical drama based on the novel by LP Hartley. Book by David Wood, Music by Richard Taylor and Directed by Roger Haines. The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there. In the heat and humidity of the rural Norfolk summer in 1900, a young boy comes of age as he is unwittingly enlisted as a messanger in an adult affair of deceit and desire.
This is the world premiere of a moving new musical adaptation of LP Hartley's beautifully wistful novel of naivety, nostalgia and the end of innocence, perhaps best known as a film of the same name starring Julie Christie and Alan Bates.
The Go-Between was part of the Perfect Pitch Showcase in 2009 and was developed prior to and since the showcase as part of the Perfect Pitch Development Network.
For more information and to book tickets please visit the relevant site
www.wyp.org.uk
www.derbylive.co.uk
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
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JULY 2011- STEPHEN FRY JOINS PERFECT PITCH AS OUR PATRON
(photo below by Roy Tan. Taken at The Great British Musical)
We are so incredibly delighted to announce that Stephen Fry has accepted our request to become a Patron of Perfect Pitch.He kindly agreed to host our recent concert The Great British Musical at the Criterion Theatre and contributed immensely to the success of the event.
To view the STEPHEN FRY INTERVIEW with Stage Left Podcast which was taken backstage at the concert please click here.
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JULY 2011 - Recording Demo of A PENGUIN'S TALE
by Lesley Ross & John-Victor
In partnership with Crescendo Music, Cheddington
At the end of July we recorded 8 tracks from A Penguin's Tale for promotional purposes. Our vocalists were Madalena Alberto, Laura Brydon, Aaron Lee Lambert, Alex McNamara,
Carl Richardson, Jack Shalloo and Emma Thornett.
Chris Full did a fantastic job of sound technician and is currently mixing the demo.... watch this space for snippets!
Left image: Emma Thornett & Jack Shalloo
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JUNE 2011 - Workshop of Defect
by Craig Adams and Claire Prenton
MD Craig Adams
Performers - Kerry Ellis and Michael Xavier
We worked for 2 days on the score, focusing on the material of the two leading characters.
JUNE 2011 - Workshop of A Penguin's Tale
by Lesley Ross and John-Victor
In partnership with Hazlitt Arts Centre, Maidstone and The Waterloo East Theatre
MD Paul Herbert
Performers - Madalena Alberto, Laura Brydon, Aaron Lee Lambert, Alex McNamara, Jack Shalloo, Emma Thornett
To continue from our recent workshop at the MTA we worked for three days on learning and workshopping the music and presented a full read through on the final afternoon.
JUNE 2011 - Workshop of Girlfriends
by Laurence Mark Wythe
In partnership with OD Musicals, Korea and The Waterloo East Theatre.
MD Paul Herbert
Performers - Stephen Ashfield, Ashleigh Gray, Alan Vicary, Gabriel Vick,Emma Williams, Emi Wokoma, Michael Xavier, Jo Zorian
The cast and creative team worked for three days learning the full score of the show to present a reading of both acts on the final afternoon.
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MAY 2011- Workshop of The Penguins Tale
by Lesley Ross and John-Victor
In partnership with The Musical Theatre Academy
MD Paul Herbert
Director Haydn Oakley
Performers - 1st Years from The MTA
A Penguin's Tale is a new family musical currently in our Development Network and is being written by Lesley Ross and John-Victor.
We have been developing the show in partnership with Hazlitt Arts Theatre and this month we workshopped the show with the first year students of The Musical Theatre Academy.
Blind Summit Theatre Company who specialise in puppetry joined the workshop for one afternoon to play with ideas on how puppets could be introduced into the piece.
The video shows some of the highlights of the week. Haydn Oakley directed the workshop and Paul Herbert was the musical director.
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APRIL 2011- THE GREAT BRITISH MUSICAL, Criterion Theatre, London
A fundraising concert in aid of Perfect Pitch. Produced by Andy Barnes Productions.
Criterion Theatre, April 10th.
Hosted by Stephen Fry.
Director: John Brant, MD/Arranger: Paul Herbert, Musical Staging: Cressida Carre
Poster design by Feast
The concert was hosted by Stephen Fry and included a fantastic line-up of West End Stars including Alfie Boe, Peter Polycarpou, Michael Xavier, Emma Williams, Julie Atherton, Emma Barton, Stiles & Drewe... and many more!
All the performers, technical and creative teams gave their time and talent for free in aid of Perfect Pitch and we are delighted to announce the concert made a profit of just under £10,000.
Every penny will go back into the Perfect Pitch development network.
Our ACE funding doesn't commence until April 2002 so the money raised from the Great British Musical will greatly assist in funding the workshops, readings and general development of new work throughout the rest of this year.
Click here to see photos from the event.
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MARCH 2011- PERFECT PITCH SECURE NATIONAL PORTFOLIO FUNDING
We are delighted to announce that we have secured three year National Portfolio Funding from the Arts Council England from April 2012.
As part of the agreement with ACE we are still required to raise a certain amount of funding ourselves to support their contribution but the National Portfolio Funding should be able to cover up to 60% of our overall organisational running costs and will greatly benefit the development network and future workshops and showcases.
The security of three year funding enables us to begin working on new projects knowing that we have the time and resources ahead of us to fully develop them through to a standard ready for full production.
To support any funding we receive we are also reliant on our network of partners and sponsors around the UK who regularly give us in-kind support and resources.
To view our current partners and sponsors click here.
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FEBRUARY 2011 - Workshop of Defect
by Craig Adams and Claire Prenton
In partnership with Arts Educational Schools
Facilitated by the ArtsEd Musical Theatre Creative Practice Students
MD Craig Adams
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Workshop
of In Touch by Dougal Irvine
In partnership with Arts Educational Schools
Facilitated and MD'd by the ArtsEd Musical Theatre Creative Practice Students
JANUARY 2011
Workshop of From Up Here
by Aaron Lee Lambert
In partnership with The Musical Theatre Academy
Facilitated by Pip Minnithorpe, MD Annemarie Lewis Thomas
Performers -1st Years from The MTA
VISIT OUR HISTORY / ARCHIVES PAGE FOR EVENTS BEFORE JANUARY
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