THE SHOW
From Star Wars to Lord of the Rings, from Harry Potter to Narnia, popular culture is full of characters, references, parallels and plot points from John Milton’s Paradise Lost, one of the most exciting and influential stories ever written. Its classic themes of good vs. evil, of forbidden love and the temptation of power are also at the root of today’s movie superheroes as they battle both external villains and their own fatal flaws.
This new musical version reimagines Paradise Lost as an intimate love story set against the epic backdrop of the war in Heaven. At its heart are three angels: the young, ambitious Angelis, the loyal army captain Michael and the fallen angel Lucifer, who was once promised Michael's role and now calls himself Satan. A new world is being formed, and a new race to inhabit it. That world is Earth, and that race is us. Heaven’s plan is for mankind to be given the new planet, and with it the free will that the angels have always been denied. Satan’s plan is to seize the new world and its freedoms for himself, in revenge for the role that was taken from him. His rebellion will set in motion a war that threatens Heaven. And as Angelis is torn between the brave, obedient Michael and the thrilling, dangerous Satan, the choice she has to make will change the universe for ever.
This Paradise Lost is a story of young people searching for happiness at a time of political violence and change. As they struggle to balance ambition and duty, love and desire, this is a story for our time, and for all time.
THE WRITERS
LEE ORMSBY | STORY & MUSIC
Lee's work as an actor and musician includes appearing as Pumbaa in the touring production of Disney’s The Lion King, the 2012 touring production of The Phantom of the Opera, and She Loves Me at Chichester Festival Theatre. Lee was one of the original UK cast of the musical adaptation of the classic comedy Lend Me A Tenor, and spent two years in the West End as J.P.Richardson — The Big Bopper — opposite Matt Wycliffe in the title role in Buddy. He has appeared in key roles in Sunset Boulevard, in which he played Artie Green in the UK tour, Grease, Sweeney Todd and Chess. His other theatre credits include Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Card, The Bluebird of Paradise, Summer and Smoke, The Night of A Thousand Voices and Crazyface, directed by Clive Barker. He appears regularly on television, and in cabaret worldwide.
JONATHAN WAKEHAM | BOOK & LYRICS
Jonathan is a stage and screen writer whose current projects include the upcoming feature films The Nile, Beyond Beauty and John Macnab and the stage show Put The Girl In Danger, developed at ArtHouse Jersey. Jonathan is the co-writer of CRANK Theatre's Filmland! which was developed at Battersea Arts Centre and is now being adapted for cinema. He is also the co-founder of the LOCO London Comedy Film Festival at BFI Southbank. Jonathan is a trustee of Camden People’s Theatre and Arts Emergency and teaches screenwriting at Pinewood Studios.
original album cast
CHARLOTTE WAKEFIELD
MATTHEW WYCLIFFE
RICARDO AFONSO
with special appearances by
JULIE ATHERTON and ANNA FRANCOLINI
and featuring
Dominic Brewer, Me’sha Bryan, Stephen Carlile, Trevor Jary, Andrew Keelan, Shekinah Mcfarlane, Annette Mclaughlin, Amanda Minihan, Wendy Paver & David Phipps-Davis
ALBUM REVIEWS
"Quite possibly the most exciting new musical I've ever had the privilege of hearing."
Caroline Hanks-Farmer, London Theatre Direct
"[Paradise Lost] has the potential to be a truly spectacular musical ... truly sweeping in scope as lush tunes, elegant orchestrations and some seriously killer power balladry combine to glorious effect ... Wakefield’s delivery of Angelis’ When I See His Face and Afonso’s raw power in Lucifer’s Here I Am stand out, and as the third point of the triangle, Matthew Wycliffe’s Michael is equally powerful, especially in the plaintive Silence In My Heart. "
Ian Foster, There Ought To Be Clowns
"What makes Paradise Lost so special is its big, bold and memorable melodies. From the sweet and simple solos to the thrilling chorus numbers, the show’s magical score and stunning vocal performances propel the story forward ... beautiful, dark and compelling."
Donna Kelly, The Reviews Hub
"A concept album that left me begging for the show to be made and hit the West End sooner rather than later."
Terry Eastham, LondonTheatre1
CONTACT
For updates please follow us on Twitter:
To contact the writers:
Lee Ormsby c/o The Soundcheck Group, Jonathan Wakeham c/o Independent Talent
To contact the cast:
Charlotte Wakefield c/o Diamond Management, Matthew Wycliffe c/o Felix de Wolfe
Album produced by Simon Greiff at SimG Productions
THANK YOU
Thank you to all our Kickstarter backers, and to everyone who has supported the show with their love, time and talent.