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When Folk Music meets Musical Theatre

A Safe Harbour

Hello lovely musical theatre friend,

First of all it has been TWO weeks! Thank you for the intermission. I needed a little break.

It's good to be back, fresh from seeing my latest West End musical (that's two in two months!). I saw 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' in the delightfully intimate Ambassador's Theatre. It's a life-affirming story about finding where you belong, told beautifully through original folk music played by THE most talented actor-musicians.

That jaunt to the Cornish coast through the magic of musical theatre has inspired this newsletter. It's about finding refuge in music.

Make you feel my love :)

If Musicals Chatter | A book club for cast albums

Next month: 28th September

So sorry - the form wasn't working! I've fixed it now, and good news, turns out there's a lovely little group of us. Please join us!

Musical Book Club: Chatter about the show for about 30 minutes

Chosen Show:​
The Tony award-winning cast album of "Maybe Happy Ending" is a mere 61 minutes of delicate, futuristic, heartfelt storytelling. Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Music.

Time: 8pm-8:30pm UK / 2pm-2:30pm CT

Date: Sunday, September 28th

All welcome!

Into the Woods | Figuratively. Wander w/ fellow fans.

Folk, for theatre folk

• Cornwall Meets West End Magic The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the three-time Olivier Award-winning "Cornwall-set folk-musical," is heading to Broadway in 2025-26 season after its triumphant West End run. This "surging folk-musical adaptation" has been hailed as the best British musical in decades and its cast album is available to listen. I love the duet "The Moon and the Sea".​
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• Folk Musical Makes Waves - Ballad Lines, a Scottish folk musical, just dropped its studio cast EP, featuring Dylan Wood (Hadestown). The album brings together performers from both sides of the Atlantic for this reimagined folk tale. London premiere is set for Southwark Playhouse in January 2026. ​
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• Sea Shanties Hit The Big Time Operation Mincemeat brings WWII espionage with folk-influenced music to theatre masses. The 2024 Olivier winner continues it's five star West End run until February 2026, opened on Broadway in March at the Golden Theatre, and has a UK tour planned in 2026. Check out their stormy weather sea shanty.
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• Ebbs and Flows - Final chance to see Brigadoon on at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre, playing until 20th September. Incoming is The Secret Garden Musical. It is getting a major revival at York Theatre Royal in March 2026.

Anything you recommend? Reply or submit, we'd love to include it.

Musical Orgasm | Nominated by our community

Sheila Atim performs 'Tight Connection to My Heart'

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Sheila Atim performs 'Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anyone Seen My Love)' with a directness, which reveals the song's underlying sadness and humanity. Haunting music and lyrics by Bob Dylan. Atim won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her role as Marianne in the original production of Girl from the North Country, which premiered at the Old Vic in 2017.

Side by Side by Side | ᯤ Spotify collab playlists

Folk & Roots Celebrating the beauty of traditional music finding new life in contemporary musical theatre. Listen

I Have Been Changed... For Good | Subscriber stories

Another story from me, since it is folk week...

When I was pregnant with my second baby, I knew I needed to find a special song just for them. My toddler already had his own song: "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge. I kinda butchered it from a duet into a solo lullaby, because I don't mind singing super low! That song had just come to me, but this time around I needed inspiration. I decided I needed a song that I knew the lyrics to, so I went through old choir songs. That's when I remembered "Falling Slowing" from Once. I played it on my phone and immediately cried. The lyrics "We've still got time" felt perfect for us. After many times singing it to my bump in the shower, it was the first thing I sang to him after he was born. I hope it'll forever be 'our song'.

Which musical is significant in your life? Share it with us.

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