Tag: playwriting

It’s the Most Busiest Time of the Year (Again)

by David L Rattiganin Theatre, WritingLeave a Comment on It’s the Most Busiest Time of the Year (Again)

I’ve written a new play, mostly as a transparent excuse to see my friend Francesco shoved off a high place in front of a live audience. The Elf That Fell off the Shelf is ‘a Christmas adventure for the whole family,’ and is produced by Prescot-based Imaginarium Theatre. Book your tickets at imaginariumtheatre.co.uk.

On Saturday 10 December I’ll be donning my Santa suit and crooning to babies, toddlers and their parents once again in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral. This will be my fourth festive appearance for Music in Unison, a formidable force in early years music education in Merseyside.

I’ll be back in the cathedral on Friday 16 December at 1.30pm to give the Francis Neilson Lunchtime Concert. Expect a short recital (30 to 40 minutes) with an enchanting programme of seasonal music, tantalisingly titled ‘Box of Delights.’ Entry is free, but donations are welcome in aid of Liverpool Cathedral Choir’s touring fund.

As always, I’m busy at the Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin, Prescot, conducting and singing at events and services including the Mayor of Prescot’s Charity Christmas Concert on Thursday 8 December and Carols by Candlelight, a traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols, on Sunday 18 December. The full schedule of Advent and Christmas services at St Mary’s is online at prescotparish.org.uk.

Photo: Sue Mannings

Project: Scrooge (schools musical)

by David L Rattiganin Theatre, WritingLeave a Comment on Project: Scrooge (schools musical)

In 2019 it was my pleasure to work with Stephen Mannings of Liverpool Cathedral to create a new, semi-staged version of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.

Photo: Sue Mannings

Stephen wrote the music and lyrics, to which I added the book. The production was designed especially for a small cast of adults and a large cast of primary school children, from twelve schools across the Diocese of Liverpool.

As well as scripting the show, I stepped in to play the part of the Narrator and the Spirit of Christmas Present, pictured.

The cathedral subsequently published the script as Scrooge: A Musical for Schools, with accompanying resources such as backing tracks, making it available to schools for future productions.

As an enthusiast for the original Dickens novel (see my article Dickensian Gothic) I had long wanted to adapt the festive tale, and I’m open to adapting A Christmas Carol again for theatre and other media. Just get in touch.