http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/en-UKMokoFeed10http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/a5/6ee06ab619c81cc9130a2a68d98552_160x200.jpghttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/10/31/curtain-up-7282172/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-10-31:/2009/10/31/curtain-up-7282172/Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:43:43 +0100 <p><strong>It's almost Christmas (oh yes it is) and rehearsals are commencing for theatre productions geared specifically for the hundreds of thousands of theatregoers across the land who require quality entertainment over the holidays, but for whom pantomime, as we now know it, just doesn't tick the box. </strong><strong>pbm is currently involved in a number of professional theatre productions around the world ...</strong></p> <p><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/159/4061159_b61a6d9240_s.jpeg" alt="Alice The Musical (USA)"></p> <p>In the USA <em>Alice The Musical</em> is enjoying a revival at Actors' Playhouse at The Miracle Theatre (Miami) until 13th November. The theatre first produced the show for its USA premiere back in January, but it's back on stage for the second time this year due to public demand.</p> <p><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/169/4061169_60268bcd1e_s.jpeg" alt="Hansel & Grettel (USA)"></p> <p>Also in the USA, <em>Hansel & Grettel</em> opens for a limited 12-performance run at Miramar Cultural Center (Florida) from 2nd November.  The producers of the show, Dream Child Productions, presented the USA premiere of the musical in February 2008 and are staging this latest revival ahead of a 2010 USA tour.</p> <p><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/171/4061171_9e36c023cb_s.jpeg" alt="Pinocchio (Scotland)"></p> <p>Meanwhile in Scotland rehearsals have just started for Perth Theatre's production of <em>Pinocchio</em>, the TMA Theatre Award nominated musical.  Here's a trailer for the new production which runs from 3rd December ...</p> </p> <p><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/180/4061180_1f160157b3_s.jpeg" alt="Tale of the Beauty (NI)"></p> <p>In Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Lyric Theatre's rehearsals for <em>The Tale of the Beauty and the Tail of the Beast</em> have just got underway.  The curtain goes up on 4th December, and here's a trailer featuring music from the show ...</p> </p> <p><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/195/4061195_d4503a1228_s.jpeg" alt="Helena Blunden (Ireland)"></p> <p>Looking forward to 2010, Big Telly Theatre Company is presenting an all-Ireland tour and the world premiere of Paul Boyd and Bernie McGill's new musical <em>The Haunting of Helena Blunden</em>. The first performance is on 25th February and here's a teaser trailer for the show featuring the briefest of sneak-peeks of the new music ...</p> </p> <p><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/212/4061212_b4f590fb64_s.jpeg" alt="Puckoon (2010)"></p> <p>Finally for now, the record-breaking production of <em>Spike MIlligan's Puckoon</em> as seen on tour across Ireland earlier this year is heading to the UK in 2010, beginning with a run in London's West End.  Here's the promotional video of the show, featuring scenes from the live performance, for those that missed it in 2009 and those that plan to catch it in 2010 ...</p> </p> <p>You can find more information on all of these productions, and many more, online now at <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a> where you can also find information on two great new publications ...</p> <p><strong><em>The scripts of Paul Boyd's </em></strong><strong><em>Alice The Musical</em></strong><strong><em> and </em></strong><strong><em>Pinocchio</em></strong><strong><em> have been published in professionally printed and bound editions featuring photos from past productions and previous cast and crew lists.  The books are available to preview and buy online from Blurb Books ...<br> </em></strong></p> <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/878595/?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=280x160"> <img src="http://www.blurb.com//images/uploads/catalog/79/1200479/878595-94345a469d157ff322331b240c17319a.jpg" alt="Pinocchio - A Musical"> </a> <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/878595?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=280x160">Pinocchio - A ...</a> By original book, mus... <a title="Book Preview" href="http://www.blurb.com/books/878595">Book Preview</a> <a title="Photo book" href="http://www.blurb.com/?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=280x160"> <img src="http://www.blurb.com/images/badge/photo-book.png" alt="Photo book"> </a> <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/872997/?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=280x160"> <img src="http://www.blurb.com//images/uploads/catalog/79/1200479/872997-0bd1998ad642af783d1aadc47a2d1702.jpg" alt="Alice The Musical"></p> <p> </a> <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/872997?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=280x160">Alice The Musical</a> By original book, mus... <a title="Book Preview" href="http://www.blurb.com/books/872997">Book Preview</a> <a title="Photo book" href="http://www.blurb.com/?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=280x160"> <img src="http://www.blurb.com/images/badge/photo-book.png" alt="Photo book"> </a> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/10/31/curtain-up-7282172/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>beautypuckoonhansel-grettelhelena-blundenmiaminorthern-irelandmusicalbeastmiramarspike-milliganrehearsalsusascotlandpinocchiohttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/10/31/curtain-up-7282172/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/06/03/beautiful-news-from-pbm-6230065/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-06-03:/2009/06/03/beautiful-news-from-pbm-6230065/Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:45:02 +0200 <p><strong>Another announcement about an upcoming production ...</strong></p> <p><em> And there's much more information on all of my upcoming work on the pbm web site <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com/">here</a>! Including ...</em></p> <p><strong>Spike Milligan’s PUCKOON</strong><br> The smash-hit comedy that enjoyed a sell-out tour of Ireland earlier this year is set to return with a series of Ireland and UK dates (details to be announced very soon). ‘Puckoon’ is produced by Big Telly Theatre Company and features music and songs by Paul Boyd. Visit <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a> to watch the ‘Puckoon’ promotional video and be among the first to find out about the show’s upcoming plans.</p> <p><strong>THE TALE OF THE BEAUTY AND THE TAIL OF THE BEAST</strong> <em><strong> Just Announced </strong></em><br> Paul Boyd’s acclaimed musical re-imagining of the old French tale ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is set to be staged in a new production by Belfast’s Lyric Theatre from 4th December 2009 – 9th January 2010. Visit <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a> today for more information, to see past production photos, and to watch an exclusive trailer featuring music from the show.</p> <p><strong>PINOCCHIO</strong><br> Paul Boyd’s 2007 TMA Theatre Award-nominated musical ‘Pinocchio’ is back on stage this year for its Scottish Premiere at Perth Theatre from 3rd December 2009 – 2nd January 2010. You can watch the excusive trailer for the production, hear music from the show, and see past production photographs online today at <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a></p> <p><strong>ALICE THE MUSICAL</strong><br> Now in its 11th year of hit productions, Paul Boyd’s ‘Alice The Musical’ will return to the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Miami, Florida this autumn. The show originally ran at the theatre between January and April 2009, but due to public demand will open again in October. There is more information, video clips, audio samples, and past production photos online at <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a></p> <p><strong>THE HAUNTING OF HELENA BLUNDEN</strong><br> Big Telly Theatre Company has announced plans to stage Paul Boyd and Bernie McGill’s chilling new musical ‘The Haunting of Helena Blunden’ on an extensive tour of Ireland from February 2010. Visit <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a> today for a brief sneak preview of the music from the new show and check back soon for exclusive details of the tour.</p> <p><strong>SINBAD</strong><br> Paul Boyd and Zoë Seaton’s spectacular water show ‘Sinbad’ toured Ireland and the UK last year, and now for a limited time you can watch the entire 50 minute production online! Visit <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a> and follow the 'Sinbad' links from the 'pbm shows' section to enjoy the production from the comfort of your own home.</p> <p><strong>PINOCCHIO SUMMER SCHOOL 2009</strong><br> pbm is delighted announce the fifth year of its annual musical theatre training programme which will be based at An Grianan Theatre in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal from 10th – 15th August 2009. This year the programme is centred around Paul Boyd’s hit musical ‘Pinocchio’ – find out all about the project and, if you're aged between eight and twenty years, how to get involved online at <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a></p> <p><strong>JOIN THE pbm FACEBOOK GROUP</strong><br> If you’re a member of facebook, why not sign up to the pbm facebook group and keep up to date with the company’s activities? You can find the group <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50478073625">here</a> – join us today!</p> <p><em>pbm wishes to thank all of its friends, colleagues, and supporters – visit the web site today for the latest news on all of the productions mentioned in this e-mail, and don’t forget that you can also find information, video clips, past production photos, and music samples of many other pbm shows including ‘Hansel & Grettel’, ‘Red’, ‘McCool’, and ‘The Little Mermaid’ – only at <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a>!</em></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/06/03/beautiful-news-from-pbm-6230065/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>lyric-theatrebeautybeasthttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/06/03/beautiful-news-from-pbm-6230065/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/05/19/bordering-on-the-ridiculous-6144306/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-05-19:/2009/05/19/bordering-on-the-ridiculous-6144306/Tue, 19 May 2009 22:39:09 +0200 <p><strong>A short promo video for all Spike Milligan fans ...</strong></p> <p>With a promise of news of this production to be announced soon!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/05/19/bordering-on-the-ridiculous-6144306/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>spike-milligantheatrepuckoonhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/05/19/bordering-on-the-ridiculous-6144306/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/04/16/sneak-peek-the-haunting-of-helena-blunden-5955029/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-04-16:/2009/04/16/sneak-peek-the-haunting-of-helena-blunden-5955029/Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:25:56 +0200 <p><strong>Further to my last post ...</strong></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/04/16/sneak-peek-the-haunting-of-helena-blunden-5955029/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicalhelena-blundenhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/04/16/sneak-peek-the-haunting-of-helena-blunden-5955029/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/04/02/pinocchio-scottish-premiere-this-year-5875083/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-04-01:/2009/04/02/pinocchio-scottish-premiere-this-year-5875083/Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:42:56 +0200 <p><strong>The first of a series of announcements about upcoming productions in 2009 ...</strong></p> </p> <p><em><span>Pinocchio © pbm 2009/2006/2003</span></em></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/04/02/pinocchio-scottish-premiere-this-year-5875083/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tma-theatre-awardspinocchiomusicalhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/04/02/pinocchio-scottish-premiere-this-year-5875083/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/03/puckoon-reviewed-5682520/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-03-03:/2009/03/03/puckoon-reviewed-5682520/Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:05:48 +0100 <p><strong>Great reviews for </strong><strong><em>Spike Milligan's </em></strong><strong><em>Puckoon</em></strong><strong> - the show that I co-devised, scored, and am currently appearing in, are coming in thick and fast ...</strong></p> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Puckoon Irish Tour 2009"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/840/3282840_cdf8ce8af0_m.jpeg" alt="Puckoon Irish Tour 2009" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><strong><em></em></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><strong><em><span><span><em><span><br>The Stage (UK's theatre industry paper) said:</span></em> "Grave robbers, a Jewish doctor, a poet/poacher, ragged-trousered Republicans, border guards, angry priests and boy scouts - just a cross section of the rich tapestry of  human life which populates the small rural village of Puckoon.  It took the satirical genius of Spike Milligan to identify the hugely comic possibilities lurking beneath the surface of the 1924 Border Commission’s machinations to draw a frontier between Britain (in the shape of Northern Ireland) and what was then known as the Irish Free State.  The dreaded deed was done late one night in a bar, when the locals and the commissioners pushed and shoved a pencil line right down the centre of the village, thereby dividing farmhouse from barn, husband from wife, bars from benches, graves from other graves.  Border posts and barbed wire fences were immediately erected and the presentation of a passport became a necessity for Christian burial on the wrong side of the line.</span></span></em></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><em>Vincent Higgins, Zoe Seaton, Paul Boyd and the company have clearly had a rare old time in adapting Milligan’s internationally successful novel into </em><strong><em>a rip-roaring piece of physical theatre </em></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><strong><em>which is hugely entertaining</em></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><em>.  In the role of the confused writer, Boyd provides the on-stage compass, supplying ad hoc music and script for the haphazard journey of old Dan Milligan (Jack Quinn), whose cycling exploits along the border are the cause of many an unforeseen disaster.</em></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span>The other four actor/musicians rarely leave the black box of a stage, zipping between costumes and characters like men possessed.  Conleth White’s clever lighting is an integral part of </span><strong><span>a glossy production which looks great</span></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><span>, even when outrageous events threaten to get in the way."</p> <p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span><em><span>The Irish Times (Irish national daily paper) said:</span> <span>"When director Zoe Seaton and musical maestro Paul Boyd get together, something a little crazy often results.  On this occasion, their collaboration includes Vincent Higgins, whose writing credits are fast catching up with his acting achievements.  </span><span lang="EN-US"><span>Their collective gaze has fallen enthusiastically on the madcap genius of Spike Milligan, comedian, writer, musician, playwright, poet and Goon. His best-selling novel Puckoon has already been adapted into a film; now Seaton, Boyd and Higgins have turned it into </span><strong><span>a fast-moving, Pythonesque piece of theatre</span></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><span>.</span></span></em></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><em>In the spirit of Milligan’s off-the-wall satirical genius and beady observations of the human condition, they have brought to life the grotesquely comic populace of Puckoon, a rural village that has fallen foul of the 1924 Boundary Commission’s creation of a new frontier between Britain and the Irish Free State.  In the role of writer, Boyd spearheads proceedings, scripting the whimsical wanderings of old Dan Milligan (Jack Quinn) along the Border on a rickety bicycle.</p> <p>The problem for the people of Puckoon is that, late on a Friday evening in the pub, their little patch of Ireland was divided, when the dreaded commissioners’ pencil was pushed and shoved down the centre of the village.  Now the erection of Border posts and barbed wire means even funerals cannot be held without passports being produced, a situation that deteriorates from farce to slapstick to total chaos.</em></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span>The six actors switch roles and costumes at dizzying speed and with relish for the task. Milligan’s vision is an </span><strong><span>oddball entertainment</span></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><span>."</p> <p><em></em></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><em><span><em><span>The Belfast Teleraph (Northern Irish national daily paper) said:</span></em> "Anyone who has ever read Spike Milligan’s comedy classic will have dismissed as impossible the idea of transferring such slapstick madness to the stage.  The story of the town of Puckoon, rent in two by the Boundary Commission, is brim-full of laughs – but its forays down comic cul-de-sacs often turn a straightforward story into a series of madcap meanderings.  A deathbed scene featuring a handful of Jewish doctors anyone?  How about a running joke about legs?</span></em></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><em>Unlikely as it seems on paper, Big Telly’s Zoe Seaton, Vincent Higgins and Paul Boyd, have breathed new life into Puckoon, bringing the central character of cycling Dan Milligan (Jack Quinn) to life.  </em><span lang="EN-US"><em>The trio have imposed a certain degree of discipline on the townsfolk, who are forced to obtain passports to bury their dead, travel to another country to cuddle with the missus, and sidestep border guards in search of a drink.  Think </em><strong><em>League of Gentlemen meets Monty Python</em></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><em>.</em></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span>Boyd plays the role of writer, and literally conducts proceedings from his keyboard at the centre of the stage, while providing live accompaniment to the story.  He is supported by four actor/musicians, who play a clutch of characters and tunes between them – from a midget’s widow to greedy priest, soft-handed captain, boozy barmaid and one-legged war hero.  </span><span lang="EN-US"><span>Seaton’s watertight direction brings some much-needed element of control to this comic cha</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span>os.  </span><strong><span>Even the silliest of Milligan’s surreal wisecracks raises a chuckle and a good time was had by all</span></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><span> … except the midget, of course".</p> <p><em></em></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span><em><span>The Coleraine Chronicle (North West weekly paper) said:</span> <span>"</span><span>After “Love and Madness” and their efforts the previous week a capacity audience enjoyed that old Coleraine firm, 'Big Telly' giving a robust revival of Spike Milligan’s comedy 'Puckoon'.  The adaptation was by practiced hand Vincent Higgins, and the pace was break-neck, while amid the general Goon Show nonsense the narrative was still discernable.  Ms.Seaton chose a knockabout music hall style where the characters declaimed loudly and (blessed boon!) distinctly to us, the fortunate audience.  No mumbling here or excuse to snooze!</span></em></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><em>But 'Puckoon' is more than a bundle of delicious “Oirish” inconsequential nonsense.  Composed well before the recent troubles, it concerns an Irish village at the moment of Partition, with a rich run of characters from “Big House” Col. Clarke, a redoubtable PP, assorted RIC men (one inexplicably Chinese), a cockney Jewish doctor, and still-resolute IRA men to the bemused Milligan himself.  First came a farcical drawing of the boundary, where the slip of a pen put the cemetery in Ulster, the Chapel and pub in the new-minted Eire.  Then came scenes where the dead have to have passports to be buried, IRA men coerce a none too reluctant PP to conduct a funeral for a load of explosive, before escaping in disguise as Roman Senators in “Julius Caesar” mounted at a Boy Scout rally.  That was only the half of it!</em></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span>All this was presided over by the composer Paul Boyd at the piano, complete with Lizst-like flowing hair and floppy bow. He was an ace MC, keeping us up to date on the plot behind the confusions, commanding the luckless Milligan and demonstrating his mastery of the piano all with great sense of purpose.  </span><span lang="EN-US"><span>In short, '</span><strong><span>Big Telly' and a dream team have a hit on their hands</span></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><span>.  </span><strong><span>The audience cheered and cheered</span></strong></span><span lang="EN-US"><span>.  If this had been mounted on either side of the Border five years ago it would have deeply offended at least one overly-sensitive political party. Thankfully </span><strong><span>all were now united in helpless laughter</span></strong><span>."</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/03/puckoon-reviewed-5682520/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>theatrepuckoonspike-milliganhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/03/puckoon-reviewed-5682520/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/03/sinbad-filmed-live-in-5682187/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-03-02:/2009/03/03/sinbad-filmed-live-in-5682187/Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:11:12 +0100 <p><strong>Part One of a series of six short </strong><strong> YouTube </strong><strong>chapters of my 2008 water spectacular <em>Sinbad</em>, filmed live on tour last year.</p> <p></strong></p> </p> <p><span>Sinbad © Big Telly Theatre Company / pbm 2008   Music © pbm 2006</span></p> <p>For a limited time you can conveniently watch the rest of the show <a href="http://pbmusicals.com/sinbad_videos.html">here</a>, or follow YouTube's own links.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/03/sinbad-filmed-live-in-5682187/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicdramapiratessinbaddancewaterwater-theatrehttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/03/sinbad-filmed-live-in-5682187/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/01/coming-in-5669470/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-03-01:/2009/03/01/coming-in-5669470/Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:37:27 +0100 <p></p> <p>  <span>Sinbad © Big Telly Theatre Company / pbm 2008   Music © pbm 2006</span><br>  <br>  EXCLUSIVE: For a limited time, watch the entire production online <a href="http://pbmusicals.com/sinbad_videos.html">here</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/01/coming-in-5669470/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>watersinbaddancewater-theatrepiratesdramamusichttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/03/01/coming-in-5669470/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/puckoon-5646928/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2009-02-25:/2009/02/25/puckoon-5646928/Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:13:15 +0100 <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/650/3265650_71c8667ead_s.jpeg" alt="The Opening" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/651/3265651_1fd75e393e_s.jpeg" alt="Dan Milligan" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/652/3265652_0b082e89b1_s.jpeg" alt="The Narrator" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/698/3265698_fbb36623a8_s.jpeg" alt="Milligan and Rafferty" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/700/3265700_85a9f7c8c7_s.jpeg" alt="The Wake" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/701/3265701_07e16d0349_s.jpeg" alt="Graverobbers" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p> Currently touring across Ireland. More info <a href="http://pbmusicals.com/puckoon_2009.html">here</a>. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/puckoon-5646928/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>puckoontheatrespike-milliganhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/puckoon-5646928/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2008/01/26/title~3633754/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2008-01-26:/2008/01/26/title~3633754/Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:24:46 +0100 <p><strong>Now that it's 2008, it's time for a re-design and a brief update.</strong></p> <p>This is my first post of the year as things here in Florida have been keeping me very busy. For the past three or four weeks I've been orchestrating a musical production of <em>The Wizard of Oz</em> which opens at The Actors' Playhouse in Coral Gables next week and runs until April, whilst at the same time I've also been attending rehearsals for my own musical <em>Hansel & Grettel</em> which is about to receive its US premiere, opening in Fort Lauderdale on 11th February.</p> <p class="center"><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="H&G latest news poster"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/616/2302616_930d0311ae_m.jpeg" alt="H&G latest news poster" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <em><small>www.pbmusicals.com/whatson</small></em></p> <p>Earlier this month <em>The Tale of the Beauty and The Tail of the Beast</em> came to the end of its very successful premiere run at The Castle theatre in Welingborough, Northamptonshire (see previous blog entries for details) and it's hard to believe that that's it for another Christmas season - until next month when negotiations for the 2008 season kick off. With the show now closed, my previous 'Beauty and The Beast' inspired blog design had to go, so I've now opted or a darker design inspired by ..</p> <p>.. <em>Sinbad - The Water Spectacular</em> which begins rehearsals in Ireland in May before heading off on tour. I'll be back in the UK for that and I'm looking forward to working on this new show as it has been four years now since we first began working on <em>The Little Mermaid</em>, the water spectacular that took us around the world.</p> <p class="center"><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Sinbad latest news poster"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/637/2302637_3c0af1e058_m.jpeg" alt="Sinbad latest news poster" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <em><small>www.pbmusicals.com/whatson</small></em></p> <p class="center"> <p><em><small>listen to music from 'Sinbad'</small></em></p> <p>And finally, 2008 is the tenth anniversary of one of my most successful shows, <em>Alice The Musical</em>. We are currently putting together plans to mark the occasion, details of which will be announced soon! In the meantime you can still watch the video of the show online <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">here</a>.</p> <p class="center"><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Alice latest news poster"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/649/2302649_7a92721f6a_m.jpeg" alt="Alice latest news poster" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <em><small>www.pbmusicals.com/musicals</small></em></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2008/01/26/title~3633754/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>beauty-and-the-beastsinbadhansel-and-grettelhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2008/01/26/title~3633754/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/picture_the_scene~3471988/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-12-20:/2007/12/20/picture_the_scene~3471988/Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:06:36 +0100 <p><strong>Here are some production shots from "The Tale of the Beauty and The Tail of the Beast" which continues its hugely successful run at The Castle, Wellingborough, until 31st December!</strong></p> <p class="center"><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Monsier Affable"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/995/2225995_9109fc14bf_m.jpeg" alt="Monsier Affable" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Barbot"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/996/2225996_dd64c1c40a_m.jpeg" alt="Barbot" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Madame Gabrielle "><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/997/2225997_d29b1d49f6_m.jpeg" alt="Madame Gabrielle " vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Madame Gabrielle asleep on the job"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/998/2225998_24d8d10a6e_m.jpeg" alt="Madame Gabrielle asleep on the job" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Marie"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/999/2225999_d7a6a94a73_m.jpeg" alt="Marie" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Michelle"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/000/2226000_60e4136a5b_m.jpeg" alt="Michelle" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Mimi, Didi, Claude, Marie"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/001/2226001_dc401f70a5_m.jpeg" alt="Mimi, Didi, Claude, Marie" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Monsieur Affable"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/002/2226002_a2f73a42e1_m.jpeg" alt="Monsieur Affable" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="The Musicians"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/003/2226003_ad0a689163_m.jpeg" alt="The Musicians" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Monsieur Affable"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/004/2226004_6aa0366af0_m.jpeg" alt="Monsieur Affable" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Didi, Marie, and Mimi"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/019/2226019_1d6e84d111_m.jpeg" alt="Didi, Marie, and Mimi" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="The Street Urchins"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/020/2226020_b2bcbc57d4_m.jpeg" alt="The Street Urchins" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>More details online at <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a> where there will also soon be some exciting announcements about forthcoming productions both in the UK and the USA!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/picture_the_scene~3471988/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>the-castlebeastbeautyhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/12/20/picture_the_scene~3471988/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/12/06/reviewed~3404504/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-12-06:/2007/12/06/reviewed~3404504/Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:13:44 +0100 <p><strong>The reviews are coming in for 'The Tale of the Beauty and the Tail of the Beast' in Wellingborough following last night's Press Night ..</strong>.</p> <p>The BBC said ...</p> <p>(Reviewed by Martin Borley)</p> <p><em>An 18th Century theatrical troupe transports The Castle audience into a magical world. Forget the Disney version. Beauty & The Beast at The Castle is more magical. The audience is transfixed by a fairy-tale world conjured up by a talented group of actors and musicians. The show is set 300 years ago. A troupe of travelling players is rehearsing stories to a group of children. By using songs, costumes, props and shadow puppets, the players bring to life the weird and wonderful tales.</p> <p>I lost count how many musical instruments are played during the show. There are strange-looking horns, flutes, gongs and even a harpsichord. The musicians are on stage amongst all the action, and from time to time the main actors join in by playing a violin or plucking a lyre.</p> <p>Paul Boyd's script and music is stylish (and wordy at times) but there were a number of jokes to amuse children and adults. He's gone back to the original fairy tale. Don't go expecting a pantomime. There's not even a hint of Christmas during the show and no hissing or booing. Audience participation is just clapping along to the catchy songs.</p> <p>In recent years, Christmas shows at The Castle have been rough and ready and bright and brash. The Castle's new artistic director Karl Wallace, who's also the director of Beauty & the Beast, has single-handedly raised the standard. His production is sophisticated and atmospheric - the sort of quality we'd normally associate with Northampton's Royal Theatre.</em></p> <p><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/774/2195774_bc9965570d_m.jpeg" alt="The Tale of The Beauty and The Tail of The Beast" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/775/2195775_1ff9068667_m.jpeg" alt=" Tale of The Beauty and The Tail of The Beast" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/776/2195776_3915c86e47_m.jpeg" alt=" Tale of The Beauty and The Tail of The Beast2" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>The Stage said ...</p> <p>(Reviewed by Caroline Morris)</p> <p><em>What a delight to see a new production of this wonderful tale taking the original storyline. The stage is dominated by a magnificent and brilliantly used gypsy-type caravan, with travelling players telling the story accompanied by musicans chiefly on old English instruments. It is traditional, captivating storytelling with refreshing staging, humour and superb acting.</p> <p>Without doubt, this is a production for the young at heart of all ages - but perhaps not the very young. The highlight of the musical numbers is Maybe I’m a Fool, featuring Lauren Adams as Marie and Ben Sleep as the Beast. Adams in particular has a West End musical type of voice, which she uses to wonderful effect in this production.</p> <p>Jemma Harris as Didi brims over with character, humour and facial interpretation, and Vanessa Havell plays the drunken and humourous Mimi. Oliver Hume is the vastly adaptable Monsieur Affable. Congatulations go to Karl Wallace for his first production as artistic director - more of the same next year please.</em></p> <p>The BBC also interviewed the audience as they were leaving the theatre to hear their views on the show. Listen by following the link <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/content/articles/2007/12/06/beauty_and_the_beast_review_event_feature.shtml">here</a>.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/12/06/reviewed~3404504/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>beautythe-castlebeasthttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/12/06/reviewed~3404504/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/11/25/first_impressions~3351712/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-11-25:/2007/11/25/first_impressions~3351712/Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:52:50 +0100 <p><strong>The first image has emerged from the rehearsals of my new show ...</strong></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="The Tale of The Beauty and The Tail of The Beast poster"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/903/2170903_8c685be995_m.jpg" alt="The Tale of The Beauty and The Tail of The Beast poster" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <em><small>Click to enlarge</small></em> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/11/25/first_impressions~3351712/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/11/25/first_impressions~3351712/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/shows_coming_soon~3260202/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-11-07:/2007/11/07/shows_coming_soon~3260202/Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:05:22 +0100 <p><strong>I have been incredibly busy with work over these past few weeks, so I haven't had much time for blogging.</strong></p> <p>I've been putting the finishing touches to the script and music of my new musical <em>The Tale of The Beauty and The Tail of The Beast</em> which goes into rehearsals on Monday! (See the trailer <a href="http://pbmusicals.com/beauty.html">here</a>).</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Beauty and Beast poster"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/511/2095511_bbc82eb570_s.jpeg" alt="Beauty and Beast poster" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <em><small>Click to enlarge</small></em></p> <p>From this Sunday I will be in the UK to visit rehearsals in Wellingborough for a week (the show opens 30th November), and then I'll be visiting Belfast for a week for some meetings regarding productions planned for 2008.</p> <p>One of the shows planned for 2008 is the premiere of my new water spectacular <em>Sinbad</em>, the follow-up to our international hit <em>The Little Mermaid</em>.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Sinbad 2008 logo"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/361/2127361_d7a2cc973b_s.jpeg" alt="Sinbad 2008 logo" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <em><small>Click to enlarge</small></em></p> <p>I wrote the music for <em>Sinbad</em> last year (the show was originally scheduled for production in 2007 but this was delayed due to the ongoing success of <em>The Little Mermaid</em>), and I previewed the main theme for the first time here on the blog.</p> <p>The music has been remixed since then, so before I disappear into rehearsals for a few weeks I will take this opportunity to preview the new version of the <em>Sinbad</em> theme here. This is a blog exclusive - the track won't be online at <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a> for a few weeks yet. Coming to a swimming pool near you in 2008!</p> <p><em><small>Sinbad - Main Theme © pbm 2007</small></em></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/shows_coming_soon~3260202/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>beastthe-castlesinbadbeautyhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/shows_coming_soon~3260202/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/26/coming_soon~3199611/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-10-26:/2007/10/26/coming_soon~3199611/Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:31:35 +0200 <p><strong>To a theatre in the UK ...</strong></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Beauty and Beast poster"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/511/2095511_bbc82eb570_m.jpeg" alt="Beauty and Beast poster" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <em><small>Click to enlarge.</small></em> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/26/coming_soon~3199611/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>the-castlebeastbeautyhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/26/coming_soon~3199611/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/22/and_the_winners_are~3177216/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-10-22:/2007/10/22/and_the_winners_are~3177216/Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:27:50 +0200 <p><strong>Sadly, at last night's TMA Theatre Awards the Lyric Theatre Belfast didn't pick up any of the three gongs for which it was nominated in a year that Scottish theatre appears to have swept the boards.</strong></p> <p>I say 'appears' only because, as far as the category in which we were nominated is concerned, whilst the winning production originated in Scotland and was co-produced by two Scottish production companies, it also <em>toured</em> extensively - presumably to venues across England as well as throughout Scotland. In fact, out of the three nominees for 'Best Show For Children and Young People', 'Pinocchio' was the only venue-based production named and I presume that this, along with the fact that the venue happened to be in Belfast, means that ultimately it was seen by fewer of the final decision makers gathered around the main judges' table.</p> <p>Whilst it would have been nice for our work at the Lyric to have been recognised nationally, I did think that our Belfast-based show had only a slim chance against productions that had toured around mainland Britain and been seen by more people (and more judges) - but I'm still very pleased (and surprised) to have had a show nominated in the first place. And regardless of the final results, I am delighted to know that in 2007, out of over one thousand shows attended by the judges, 'Pinocchio' was seen at the Lyric in Belfast and deemed good enough to be included in the top three!<br> <em><br> Besides, maybe it's fair that those companies with the foresight to gather resources to undertake large tours are recognised for their hard work - and maybe their success will encourage other producers to look into the benefits of touring regionally-based productions more extensively.</em></p> <p>Congratulations to all the winners, a full list of whom can be found online on The Stage's web site <a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/18601/scotland-scoops-five-tma-awards">here</a>. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/22/and_the_winners_are~3177216/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tma-awardpinocchiohttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/22/and_the_winners_are~3177216/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/20/one_in_three~3166634/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-10-20:/2007/10/20/one_in_three~3166634/Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:54:14 +0200 <p><strong>The TMA Theatre Awards are tomorrow (Sunday) ...</strong></p> <p>... and although I can't attend the ceremony in person, the Executive Director of the Lyric in Belfast is going in my place and will have my cell phone number with him. 'Pinocchio' is up against two other productions for the prize, which at least means that we were judged one of the top three shows in the UK (which is nice!)</p> <p>For more information visit the pbm web site <a href="http://pbmusicals.com">here</a>.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="The Red Lobster Inn"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/524/1236524_08eb8157b1_s.jpeg" alt="The Red Lobster Inn" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <small><em>click to enlarge</em></small> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/20/one_in_three~3166634/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>pinocchiotma-awardhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/10/20/one_in_three~3166634/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/09/19/time_for_a_reveal~3008411/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-09-19:/2007/09/19/time_for_a_reveal~3008411/Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:28:49 +0200 <p><strong>With a small fanfare I can finally make the following announcement.</strong></p> <p>The musical of 'Pinocchio' that I wrote and directed for Belfast's Lyric Theatre has been nominated for a TMA Theatre Award!</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Pinocchio TMA nomination poster"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/472/1988472_27b0f3ebcc_m.jpeg" alt="Pinocchio TMA nomination poster" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Now that it has been announced in <em>The Stage</em> I'm free to tell you that more details can be found <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">here</a>.</p> <p><em>Now, where's my tux?</em> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/09/19/time_for_a_reveal~3008411/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tma-awardpinocchiohttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/09/19/time_for_a_reveal~3008411/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/06/24/blog_hit_parade~2508274/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-06-24:/2007/06/24/blog_hit_parade~2508274/Sun, 24 Jun 2007 03:46:19 +0200 <p><strong>I just had to post this, to prove it really happened.</strong></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Top Blog 23rd June"><img src="http://data4.blog.de/media/512/1721512_ab29d2121e_s.jpeg" alt="Top Blog 23rd June" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Wow. Number three? That's the highest <em>ever!</em></p> <p><em>I'd like to thank the Academy, Juzzy, my laptop ...</em></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/06/24/blog_hit_parade~2508274/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/06/24/blog_hit_parade~2508274/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/06/13/poster_boy_d~2448741/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-06-13:/2007/06/13/poster_boy_d~2448741/Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:58:19 +0200 <p><strong>We have some new artwork online at the pbm web site.</strong></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Alice The Musical"><img src="http://data4.blog.de/media/202/1688202_401f9e2d10_s.jpeg" alt="Alice The Musical" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Hansel & Grettel"><img src="http://data4.blog.de/media/203/1688203_ea3953f042_s.jpeg" alt="Hansel & Grettel" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="McCool"><img src="http://data4.blog.de/media/204/1688204_b731737552_s.jpeg" alt="McCool" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Pinocchio"><img src="http://data4.blog.de/media/205/1688205_ff3bf5da88_s.jpeg" alt="Pinocchio" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Red"><img src="http://data4.blog.de/media/206/1688206_75c5ce32e0_s.jpeg" alt="Red" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="The Little Mermaid"><img src="http://data4.blog.de/media/207/1688207_5b7069167e_s.jpeg" alt="The Little Mermaid" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <small>click to enlarge</small></p> <p>And if the shows look interesting, pop along to <a href="http://pbmusicals.com">pbmusicals.com</a> and check out the video clips and audio samples. Don't forget to support the company by clicking on the ad that appears at the end of each video - just for clicking we get a few pence towards out internet costs! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/06/13/poster_boy_d~2448741/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>pbmhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/06/13/poster_boy_d~2448741/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/03/19/a_complete_site~1934430/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-03-19:/2007/03/19/a_complete_site~1934430/Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:00:16 +0100 <p><strong>Work has finally finished on the new company web site - go along and have a look at <a href="http://www.pbmusicals.com">www.pbmusicals.com</a></strong></p> <p>Now perhaps I can get round to starting that script I'm meant to be writing. And maybe blogging more often too. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/03/19/a_complete_site~1934430/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>pbmhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/03/19/a_complete_site~1934430/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/03/12/a_pinocchio_cast_album~1888579/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-03-12:/2007/03/12/a_pinocchio_cast_album~1888579/Mon, 12 Mar 2007 01:32:42 +0100 <p><strong>I have been uploading some images from the most recent production of my musical "Pinocchio".</strong></p> <p>The show only closed a month ago, but it seems like an age has passed. It's nice to have these to remind myself of how much fun the show was. It was the Lyric Theatre's best selling show in eight years. I had a great cast.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Pinocchio Comes Alive"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/521/1236521_fa02fb29eb_m.jpeg" alt="Pinocchio Comes Alive" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <small>Pinocchio comes alive ...</small></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="The Blue Haired Fairy and Pinocchio"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/522/1236522_ed0c8b782d_m.jpeg" alt="The Blue Haired Fairy and Pinocchio" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <small>Pinocchio meets the Blue Haired Fairy ...</small></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="Mr. Cat, Pinocchio and Mr. Fox"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/523/1236523_433b878f51_m.jpeg" alt="Mr. Cat, Pinocchio and Mr. Fox" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <small>Pinocchio heads off into the sunset with Mr. Cat and Mr. Fox ...</small></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="The Red Lobster Inn"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/524/1236524_08eb8157b1_m.jpeg" alt="The Red Lobster Inn" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <small>Flaming Nora serves her customers at The Red Lobster Inn ...</small> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/03/12/a_pinocchio_cast_album~1888579/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>pinocchiohttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/03/12/a_pinocchio_cast_album~1888579/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/01/24/snap~1611974/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2007-01-24:/2007/01/24/snap~1611974/Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:03:18 +0100 <p><strong>Off to the chiropractor this afternoon.</strong></p> <p>On my return I will be 6' 2" and so far above the keyboard I may be unable to blog.</p> <p>Or I may still be 5' 7" but in slightly less pain.</p> <p>We'll see how that one goes.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/01/24/snap~1611974/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2007/01/24/snap~1611974/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/15/l_and_the_pharmacist~1441857/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2006-12-15:/2006/12/15/l_and_the_pharmacist~1441857/Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:45:42 +0100 <p><strong>As a special Friday treat, and for those of you that enjoyed my story <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/04/14/h_and_the_gynecologist~727499"><em>H and the Gynecologist</em></a>, I am proud to present you with another true tale; this one features my friend L, who made a brief appearance in the aforementioned <em>H and the Gynecologist</em>.</strong></p> <p>L has a home in Spain and, like many British and Irish people who live abroad, is absolutely convinced that she can speak the lingo like a native. "I studied Spanish at University," she reminds me as I choke on my coffee in some Spanish taverna while she orders an 'aqua con gas' with a huge sense of achievement. L hasn't been at University for thirty years.</p> <p>Her insistence on conversing in pidgin Spanish has, from time to time, gotten our heroine into a spot of trouble; such as the time she went to the local chemist.</p> <p>There she was, one bright morning, sitting outside of a beautiful old hotel on the sea front in a nearby Spanish town with a young Englishman that she had been seeing for only a few days. She ordered her usual 'coffee con leche' and then excused herself for a few minutes.</p> <p>The truth was that L had been feeling a bit under the weather and needed to pop along to the local 'pharmacia' to pick up a little something to deal with a sudden bout of cystitis. The chemist shop was full to the gills of locals, jabbering away in their native tongue, and L moved amongst them, smiling as though understanding their various conversations, and made her way to the counter. She addressed the pharmacist in her best Spanish, explained (God knows how) what her current condition was and received, for her trouble, a bottle of medicine and a full explanation of how best to use it, in Spanish.</p> <p>She put the parcel under her arm and thanked the locals as she exited, nodding like a missionary in deepest Africa retreating from a tribe with a shrunken skull in a box. L was very pleased with her own progess in this distant land.</p> <p>Back at the beautiful old hotel on the sea front, L's coffee had arrived and, attracting the attention of the waiter, she ordered a slice of chocolate cake ('un poco de gateaux, por favor') in case the medicine was best taken on a full stomach (she thought she had heard the chemist say something to that effect). Putting the parcel to one side, L turned her attentions to her male companion and the morning continued in a relaxed and jovial mood.</p> <p>About thirty minutes later, coffees and gateaux were but distant memories and L's companion excused himself to avail of the 'servicios'. Seizing the opportunity, L reached for her parcel, produced the medicine and swigged two mouthfuls while she was alone. She put the top back on the bottle, dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin and placed the concoction back into her bag.</p> <p>Imagine his surpise when, on returning to the table, the male companion sat down only to have L throw up instantly and quite spectacularly on his feet. Imagine further, if you will, his surprise when the vomiting just wouldn't stop. To his credit, the male companion (who, I remind you, had only been on the scene for a day or two) helped L to her feet - she having already helped herself liberally to his - and tried to get her to move away from the hotel, and the other guests sat around them.</p> <p>The waiter ran over; "Does she require a doctor?" he said, in perfect English. "Nah, it's ok," L replied, in not so perfect English, "Get me back to the chemist".</p> <p>L and her gentleman staggered gracelessly to the chemist shop, stopping along the way in each and every doorway to deposit a small sample of stomach lining and gateaux, and eventually arrived, exhausted and sweating.</p> <p>The pharmacy was still full of jabbering locals who seemed to treat the place as some kind of modern day market square - but the sight of the formerly glamourous L, now red, sweaty and with strands of her long blond hair stuck at a forty-five degree angle across her face, silenced them immediately. L lurched forward. A local mother covered her child's eyes. Somewhere towards the back of the throng an old woman dressed in black crossed herself.</p> <p>At the counter, the bemused chemist looked on as L, not attempting to speak any language at all let alone Spanish, took out her bottle of medicine and slapped it on the counter. The chemist's eye twitched like that of a gunslinger at one minute before noon.</p> <p>L pointed a long, damp finger at the bottle, mimed swigging two mouthfulls, rubbed her stomach and then pretended to throw up. She looked back up at the chemist's blurred face and placed her eyebrows in a quizical freeze that made it clear that her silent question demanded a response. There was a moment of silence.</p> <p>The chemist looked at the bottle, turned to the crowd of locals and said something in his own, fluid language that made them laugh openly. The local mother uncovered her child's eyes and pointed at L. The old woman in black pushed her way to the front of the crowd for a better look.</p> <p>"What is it?" L asked.</p> <p>The chemist replied, in perfect English.</p> <p>"I'm sorry, I thought I had given you instructions regarding this medicine."<br> "Instructions? Oh yes, you did - but in Spanish. I may be a little rusty."<br> "We must get you to hospital."<br> "Hospital? But I only swallowed two mouthfulls of medicine! I can't have overdosed."<br> "Signora, this is not medicine you have swallowed. This is vaginal wash."</p> <p>L was in hospital until the following morning. She never heard from her gentleman friend again. Her Spanish Linguaphone course is ongoing. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/15/l_and_the_pharmacist~1441857/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>spanishpharmacisthttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/15/l_and_the_pharmacist~1441857/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/05/setting_the_stage~1404709/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2006-12-05:/2006/12/05/setting_the_stage~1404709/Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:26:29 +0100 <p><strong>It seems that my musical "Pinocchio" is a success! The word on the street today is that it has become the Lyric Theatre's fastest selling show in over three years.</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=1006746"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/746/1006746_e3372764b4_m.jpeg" alt="Pinocchio banner" title="Pinocchio banner" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>This is very heartening, as you can imagine. I am also very proud of the fact that one of my previous musicals, "Hansel & Grettel", produced by the Lyric back in 1999, still holds the record as the theatre's most financially successful production <em>ever</em>. Those were the good old days at the Lyric Theatre when a show could run for nine weeks and do 97% business - recent times have been dark and difficult, so today's news of "Pinocchio"s success is, hopefully, an indiction that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel.</p> <p>Meanwhile, a review of the show has appeared online prior to publication in <a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/15115/">The Stage</a>:</p> <p><em>The enchanting but cautionary tale of the wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy, has been brought triumphantly to new life in Paul Boyd’s reworking of his 2003 musical. This sharp, stylish production crosses the generation gap, contriving to be at once cute and sophisticated, offering a gentle lesson for the little ones, arch humour for the adults and a feast of treats for the eye and the ear, via Conleth White’s dazzling lighting, Sarah Johnston’s crisp choreography and Pat Musgrave’s fantastical costumes.</p> <p>Stuart Marshall’s set plunges us simultaneously inside the belly of the great whale, which is threatening Pinnocchio’s village, and into the plush kitsch of New York’s Radio City Music Hall, a setting which determines the tone of the evening.</p> <p>Niki Doherty is a sweetly appealing Pinocchio, whose naughty tantrums hit a note of instant recognition with the audience. Richard Orr’s Geppetto captures the agony of a parent of a lost child and Mark Asante excels as the overgrown but dim-witted Mr. Cat.</p> <p>Tommy Wallace adds real dash and class to proceedings as the conniving Mr. Fox, while Christina Nelson brings the house down as the punk-haired, Thatcher-voiced Blue Fairy, sprinkling stardust and nightshade on good and bad deeds.</em> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/05/setting_the_stage~1404709/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>reviewpinocchiohttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/05/setting_the_stage~1404709/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/04/another_exclusive~1400633/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2006-12-04:/2006/12/04/another_exclusive~1400633/Mon, 04 Dec 2006 15:43:44 +0100 <p><strong>Another sneak peak for you of my musical "Pinocchio" which is currently playing in a number of theatres here in Ireland.</strong></p> <p>Pinocchio is encouraged to enter show business by the producer of The Puppet Music Theatre where a new musical is about to premiere, "A Chorus Pine".</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=1006839"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/839/1006839_3067c1da0e_m.jpeg" alt="A Chorus Pine (The Musical)" title="A Chorus Pine (The Musical)" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><em>The marionette dance from 'A Chorus Pine'.</em></p> <p>This recording of "A Chorus Pine" is performed by the Lyric Theatre Belfast cast (as pictured above) - I hope you enjoy it!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/04/another_exclusive~1400633/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>musicalpreviewmusicpinocchiohttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/12/04/another_exclusive~1400633/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/11/13/an_exclusive~1327374/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2006-11-13:/2006/11/13/an_exclusive~1327374/Mon, 13 Nov 2006 23:48:51 +0100 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=816285"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/285/816285_28e756dc42_m.jpeg" alt="Pinocchio 3 Venue Poster" title="Pinocchio 3 Venue Poster" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Opening in two weeks' time at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. I have some tickets for the special invited audience dress rehearsal on 27th November (if anyone's in the area).</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/11/13/an_exclusive~1327374/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>pinocchiohttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/11/13/an_exclusive~1327374/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/10/19/end_of_an_era~1240114/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2006-10-19:/2006/10/19/end_of_an_era~1240114/Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:38:23 +0200 <p><strong>Days until John arrives ... 38<br> Days until the cats leave ... 0</strong></p> <p>It's my last night with my cats. Our ten years together will come to an end tomorrow evening. I'm not sure how I'll cope the whole 'handing over' part. I've not been dealing well with the idea of it.</p> <p>Thank you for the messages - it's good to know that people have been through similar experiences. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/10/19/end_of_an_era~1240114/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>catshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/10/19/end_of_an_era~1240114/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/10/04/nothing_on_tv~1188812/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2006-10-04:/2006/10/04/nothing_on_tv~1188812/Wed, 04 Oct 2006 22:04:35 +0200 <p><strong>Allow me to direct you to some classic British comedy.</strong></p> <p>Actually, this is more for my American friends who have no idea whom I am referencing. Firstly, a clip of Tommy Cooper doing what he does best (<em>"spoon, jar - jar, spoon</em>") ...</p> <p>And now a clip of Frankie Howerd in action in "Up Pompeii!" - sinister forces are at work and the secret plans for a coconut-hurling catapult have gone missing from his master's papers ...</p> <p>Oh, I did laugh. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/10/04/nothing_on_tv~1188812/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>classic-comedytommy-cooperfrankie-howerdhttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/10/04/nothing_on_tv~1188812/#commentshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/08/23/fins_can_only_get_better~1062821/tag:paulboyd.blog.co.uk,2006-08-23:/2006/08/23/fins_can_only_get_better~1062821/Wed, 23 Aug 2006 16:16:33 +0200 <p><strong>How cute is this? Finis, the company that makes and provides the monofins we use in our production of 'The Little Mermaid', have taken inspiration from us and are marketing monofins for kids shaped like Mermaid's tails!</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=770584"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/584/770584_32847d697e_m.jpeg" alt="Mermaid fin 1" title="Mermaid fin 1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The other great thing about them is that when the kids are strapped into them, they'll never beat you in a race up the beach to the ice-cream stand.</p> <p><a href="http://www.finisinc.com">www.finisinc.com</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/08/23/fins_can_only_get_better~1062821/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>the-little-mermaidmonofinshttp://paulboyd.blog.co.uk/2006/08/23/fins_can_only_get_better~1062821/#comments