SHOWS IN DEVELOPMENT
Black Power Desk (Old Vic 12)
This UK Black British musical uses an original score of rap, reggae, soul and R&B to shine a light on a rarely explored part of Black British history. This story of belonging, set against a backdrop of 1970s Notting Hill, is inspired by the true events of London’s Black Power movement, and is an energetic call to arms against racial discrimination within the political system.
Black Power Desk was due to be performed at BEAM2020 - check out the virtual BEAM Twitter pitch here!
For an industry pack including video of the sharing at the Old Vic in 2019, please email me on hello@stephjweller.com
Book & Lyrics by Urielle Klein Mekongo (Yvette)
Music by Urielle Klein Mekongo and Richard Melkonian (The Finding; Arthur Miller’s No Villain)
Original sharing (December 2019, Old Vic)
Directed by Miranda Cromwell (Rockets & Blue Lights; Death of A Salesman; Company)
Movement director: Natasha Harrison (Sweet Science of Bruising; Shakespeare Nation; Handbagged tour)
Designer: Anna Orton (Messiah, King Lear, dir. Tom Morris; The Trojan Women, dir. Sally Cookson)
Black Power Desk was originally commissioned by The Old Vic 12.
Lesbian Pirates! (Working Birthday)
A new musical based on the untold true story of the ruthless, maverick and lesbian pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. These women met in the Caribbean in 1717 while cross-dressing as male pirates, fell in love, slaughtered swathes of men, stole treasure and escaped execution from the law. Previously erased from history, this riotous, inspiring and incendiary female narrative uses original music and a cast of disabled performers to bring to life Anne and Mary’s sexy, violent and turbulent world.
Lesbian Pirates! was due to be performed at BEAM2020 - check out the virtual BEAM Twitter pitch here!
For an industry pack including video of the sharing at artsdepot in 2019, please email me on hello@stephjweller.com
Written and composed by Natasha Sutton Williams (Freud the Musical; Clown Sex)
First R&D directed by Deirdre McLaughlin (How to Catch a Bear; Big Bad; Gingzilla: Glamonster VS The World); movement direction by Christina Fulcher.
Development to date supported by Unlimited, artsdepot, Unity Theatre Trust, the High Commission for Canada in the UK and New Wolsey Theatre Testing Ground.
Very Special Guest Star
The third in Tom Wright's hugely successful coming-of-age trilogy, this is a provocative and darkly entertaining exploration of white and middle-class gay privilege.
Following the sold out runs of both Undetectable and My Dad’s Gap Year, this show is building to production in 2021, directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE.
To discuss how you can support the show please email me on hello@stephjweller.com
Written by Tom Wright (Undetectable; My Dad's Gap Year; I Ain't Wrong)
Directed by the award-winning Rikki Beadle-Blair. Projects include several feature films and TV series, including Stonewall for the BBC, Metrosexuality for Chanel 4, Noah's Arc for MTV Logo in the USA. Theatre credits include Summer In London (Theatre Royal Stratford East), which featured the first all trans cast.
Live to Tell: (a proposal for) The Madonna Jukebox Musical
Trapped in a disabled body, Brian wants to reinvent himself - just like Madonna. But when real-life survival with HIV clashes with the pop musical form, things change quicker than a Ray of Light...
Development currently supported by artsdepot, with participation programme support from Camden People's Theatre.
For an industry pack please email me on hello@stephjweller.com
Written by Brian Mullins (We Wait in Joyful Hope; Our Fathers)
Directed by Deirdre McLaughlin (How to Catch a Bear; Big Bad; Gingzilla: Glamonster VS The World)
Development to date supported by The Yard Theatre
Sharks are Terrorists
An angry tweet results in the accidental emergence of a matriarchy in this darkly comic look at a dystopian Britain. In a divided climate, the personal becomes political, and Emma and Paul can't even find safety in the bomb shelter at the bottom of their garden. At the end of days, do we stand together, or alone?
The screenplay adaptation I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire has won Best Screenplay at Lift-Off Season Awards 2019.
To discuss this show please email me on hello@stephjweller.com
Written by Tamara Von Werthern (The White Bike; ALICE)
Directed by Lily McLeish (While You Are Here; Schism; The White Bike)
Eat It (working title)
A drag show for families about playing with your food and loving who you are.
Written by Steven Butler (The Diary Of Dennis The Menace; The Wrong Pong)
Directed by Deirdre McLaughlin (How to Catch a Bear; Big Bad; Gingzilla: Glamonster VS The World)