Concept
Danny & Alex discussed the concept of a brand new and innovative musical based upon the famous Grimm Brothers’ Hansel and Gretel.
The new musical by Danny Davies & Alex Scott Fairley
In a world at war with itself, where Big Mother might always be watching you, refugee sister and brother Margie and Jonjo seek safety amongst the last remaining trees. But is the sweet surprise they discover in the gloomy Brockenharts Forest all it seems to be, and just what kind of asylum have they actually found?
Meanwhile, their father, Mr. Grimm, - torn from his family and his pet emporium - tries to make head and tail of a topsy-turvy world in which you can’t believe everything you see and hear. Even in the darkest hour, there are friends, animal and human, and just maybe not-quite-human, on whom our adventurers can count on, and stories that might possibly help them escape the dangers that surround them. But what happens when the old stories don’t work, and you have to write your own?
With music and lyrics by Danny Davies, and story by Alex Scott Fairley, SWEET is a twisted steampunk symphony of enchantment and entertainment, horror and heroics, based on the Grimm Brothers’ Hansel and Gretel. With an exciting and original score, and a take on a timeless tale seen through new eyes, SWEET’s mysterious and gripping plot will capture the imagination of younger audiences and grown-ups alike, with a lot of laughter and song, and maybe just enough pause for thought to wonder where our own world might be headed…
Danny composed his first musical, "Loco Parentis" aged 19 (Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar). From here, he went on to study Music and Education at Keele University and, following his graduation in 1997, he embarked upon his professional career as a composer, writing tracks and developing artists for Sony, Dewolfe, Chrysalis and Plugged. During the 15 years that followed, he received commissions for over 400 works for TV, film and radio, and his music is frequently heard on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky, in addition to a vast number of international TV and radio stations.
Danny continued to set aside time to pursue his passion for Musical Theatre and, through his collaboration with Judy Wolfson and Pete Gallagher, he co-wrote 'Face To Face' (formerly "Merrick") which debuted at The Pleasance Theatre, London in 2001.
Other theatrical projects include "Friends Reunited" (working title), and "Chasing The Dream" - written with Pete Gallagher, this being the first musical to be featured in the live semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent, with songs from the musical reaching over 9 million viewers.
Danny's recently released CD “Hey Producer!” (Making Records / Dress Circle Records) offered a collection of songs from past productions, more recent projects and tracks written specifically for the album. The project received positive acclaim from critics and industry media, along with endorsement from Dame Judi Dench (for more information, please visit www.heyproducer.com).
It was through "Hey Producer!" that Dany first met Alex Scott Fairley, co-writer of SWEET - the new British Musical.
Alex's recent acting theatre credits include The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, as well as Doctor Caius in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Flute/First Fairy in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Speed in Two Gentlemen of Verona (all Guildford Shakespeare Company); Paris in Romeo und Julia and Feste in Was Ihr Wollt (Openhouse Theatre, Vienna); Trevor in Pool (Brockley Jack Theatre), Lord Windermere in Lady Windermere's Fan, Guy Jones in A Chorus of Disapproval, Naked Guardsman in Single Spies and Court Clerk/Ensemble in Hello, Dolly! (all Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Policeman/Teacher in Blood Brothers (Phoenix Theatre, London); Pope / Emperor / Devil-Bride in Doctor Faustus (Creation Theatre, Oxford); Gerald Croft in An Inspector Calls (International Theatre, Vienna); Zeke Barrows-North in A Capital Affair (Vienna's English Theatre); Miguel Correres in Mexican Hayride and Tuffles in Flahooley! (all Sadler's Wells); Ms. Craig in Enjoy! (York Theatre Royal), Milo in Sleuth (Farnham Repertory), and Ariel in The Tempest (Winchester Theatre Royal).
He has worked extensively as an actor and puppeteer in the USA and Canada, where his shows include The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Room On The Broom (all Tall Stories Theatre); Pigeon Party!, Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! (Big Wooden Horse Theatre); also on the West End run of Midnight (Polka/Peacock Theatre, London) and The Little Mermaid (Dugdale Theatre, London).
Alex also works as a freelance academic writer, proofreader, and occasional illustrator; he is a fluent German-speaker and was the translator of Der Grüffelo (Junges Theater, Bonn). He has first class honours in English and Latin from Jesus College, Oxford. His favorite authors include Frank Baum, Jack Snow, Will Self, John Wyndham, Ross MacDonald, Sherri Tepper, E.M. Delafield, Charlotte Bronte and Jack Zipes.
Chris is a London based theatre director who is currently developing/directing a contemporary new musical based on the iconic Sherlock Holmes with West End producer Adam Paulden. Chris’s other musical work includes the UK premieres of The Theory of Relativity by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (nominated for Best Production of a New Musical – BroadwayWorld UK/West End), Paul Scott Goodman’s Bright Lights Big City and Andrew Lippa’s john & jen.
As part of the freelance staff directing team at the Royal Opera House, Chris has worked on their productions of Mitridate Re di Ponto, Norma, Oedipe and Manon Lescaut. He has directed for many of London’s drama schools and has also produced and directed several concerts including the 2016/17 concert series The West End Up Close in partnership with the House of St. Barnabas in Soho.
In February of 2017 Chris began pursuing research and directing opportunities in narrative CGI and 360° Virtual Reality. In December 2017 he was awarded a Grant for the Arts by Arts Council England to develop a new narrative VR experience with noted CGI VR company Breaking Fourth; this project will be released in the autumn of 2018. He is also the recipient of a Catalyst Grant from the Waltham Forest Council which is supporting the development of a prototype Shakespeare VR experience. This project is being further supported by leading 360° VR company Visualise and will be showcased in the first instance at CentrE17 in Walthamstow in June 2018.
Below is a selection of songs from SWEET, recorded by our workshopping cast.
April 2014
Danny & Alex discussed the concept of a brand new and innovative musical based upon the famous Grimm Brothers’ Hansel and Gretel.
November 2014
Danny composed three songs, exploring the musical 'language' and treatment of the musical, as Alex began to devise the first draft synopsis of SWEET.
May 2015
Alex and Danny began to plot against the synsoposis - as Alex developed his unique take on the famous tale, Danny continued composing around the plot outline, as it continued evolve.
January 2016
Directed by Christopher Lane, Alex and Danny brought together an excitng group of actors including Julie Atherton, Andrew Gallo, Christopher Lane,
Ina-Marie Smith, Stuart Sweeting and Joe Taylor. Collectively and enthusastically, they explored Alex's ideas, scetches, scenes and concepts.
June 2017
Alex presented his first draft script based upon the earlier workshop. Together, Danny, Alex and Chris worked through the material - book and songs - manipulating it into a performable six hander musical of two acts and 14 songs.
May 2018
After raising sufficient funds to workshop the book, music and lyrics developed so far, the creative team - now joined by Musical Director Simon Beck - workshop the piece over an intensive two day period, and offer a sharing to a selection of producers and creative directors.
Present
On receipt of some exceptionally positive and constructive feedback from the previous sharing, Alex and Danny are currently refining the music, lyrics and book, whilst simultaneously setting out to generate sufficient funding to secure a two week workshop.