After 40 years as a journalist in the North-East, it’s so exciting to be involved in something completely new – working with a West End composer on a musical!
It all seems a bit surreal but the composer in question is Stuart Brayson, who is enjoying success in the West End, having partnered Sir Tim Rice on the From Here To Eternity musical.
Earlier this year, Stuart was commissioned to write a new children’s musical as part of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. And I’m thrilled to say it’s based on a children’s book I wrote, called Darly’s Magical History Ride, about a magical little train that goes back in time.
The project has come together in the most wonderful way, starting with Darlington Building Society creating Darly as an innovative way of encouraging children to get into the savings habit. Whenever a Darly junior savings account is opened, children receive a money-box in the form of a little blue train, and they can add carriages by reaching savings milestones.
A few years ago, the building society asked me to bring Darly to life in a children’s book, so that’s what I did, with the little train going on an adventure back in time, through enchanted tunnels, and meeting characters from history.
Thanks to a conversation with Julian Cound, chair of the brilliant Darlington Operatic Society, Stuart heard about the time-travelling story and – because of his North-East roots – was inspired to want to write a children’s musical.
The building society and Darlington Borough Council saw what a coup it could be for Darlington, and seized the opportunity by commissioning Stuart to write the score. Now, he’s now come up with a collection of brilliantly catchy songs, and it’s full steam ahead.
We want this to be a real community initiative, so Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College’s musical department has been signed up as an educational partner, and Cockerton Prize Silver Band will also be involved because brass and the steam age seem to fit together.
The aim is for the musical to be premiered in Darlington in 2025 before becoming a legacy of the bicentennial of the railways.
Hold on tight – I think we’re in for quite a ride between now and 2025!
