A chat with Lewis Cornay on Harry & Greta
British Youth Music Theatre
The Leading Music Theatre Company for Young People Aged 11-21
Why should people come and see this show?
People should come and see this show because it has some really relevant themes for today; it’s talking about the climate crisis and climate action and setting that in the future, so we can question who is taking responsibility for what is going on right now.
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Why did you base it on the Hansel & Gretel Story?
I wanted to take a tale that is so entrenched within our societal storytelling, Hansel and Gretel, and flip it on its head. Audiences will recognise characters and symbols from the story, but will be taken on an imaginative journey that travels way beyond the end of the tale as we know it. With the story we are taking something that people are already so aware of and using that to surprise as well as hammering home the messages of climate change.
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What are you excited about with this production?
It is a show that is, I think, championing young people’s voices, and I’m so excited that it is going to be performed by a group of exceptionally talented young people with BYMT.
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What will it feel like to watch?
It’s fast paced, it’s witty, even if I say so myself, and it’s using lots of different and entertaining music styles - we’ve got rap, we’ve got more traditional musical theatre and I think there is something in it for everyone to enjoy.
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How does it feel to be returning to BYMT, having been a young performer with the Company?
I’m so excited to be coming back. As a child and part of BYMT, I used to be so fascinated by the process of the writers and now it feels great to be able to come back in that position of writing for the Company. I’m really looking forward to hopefully inspiring new generations of writers and composers. Writing a new musical is a really specific thing and it’s hard to know how to get into it and it’s hard to know where to begin with a show. I want to share the process from the beginning with the young company and work out how we can build something collaboratively together.
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What are you most looking forward to?
I’m so looking forward to working with the young performers and musicians to create the show, because we are not normally blessed with the opportunity to work with so many exciting young minds when creating a new piece of theatre. The BYMT process gives us this opportunity and it is unique!
Venue: New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive, Ipswich IP1 2AS
Dates: 4 & 5 August 2023
Times: 2.30pm and 7.30pm daily
Tickets: ￡12 - ￡15
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