I was really moved when someone who saw Risen!- The Musical said “You brought so much joy to everyone.” Well the joy was not confined to just the audience – here is the Portsmouth Gospel Choir in the changing rooms of the New Theatre Royal straight after the final performance of Risen!- The Musical on Saturday, November 7th – if this not portray joy born from a love of Jesus then I don’t know what does!
So where is Risen!- The Musical going? Well we have ideas we are working on right now and which I will begin to share with you next week.
The Name That’s On My Lips – featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Where Would I Be Without You” recorded and produced by Ross Gill
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who contributed to the success of Risen!- The Musical at the New Theatre Royal November 6th and 7th 2015.
The London Touring Cast : Niamh McGuckin, Ennio Ficiur, Mikey Wooster, Jodie May Quirke, Claire Hutchinson, Caroline Wetherfelt, Leah Godbold, Katie Forge, David Murray, Johnny Fitzharris, Andrew Dovaston, Joshua Yeardley, Benny Bright and Jacob Collins.
Here are just some of the comments after Risen!- The Musical was performed at the New Theatre Royal by the fabulous London Touring Cast and Portsmouth Gospel Choir.
You brought so much joy to everyone
‘Risen’ was AWESOME
We all felt very blessed watching this amazing musical about our Lord’s life
Risen – Fantastic musical tonight. The Eucharist, the garden, the crucifixion each bought a tear to my eye. Thomas resonated with my own struggles.
Magnificent production !
Risen was fantastic – at one or two points I was crying – I found it moving and uplifting
A wonderful show which brought many of us to tears. Never seen as many hankies out for a while. Absolutely wonderful and some brilliant singers. Congratulations once again
What a triumph last night, I and my group really had a great and inspiring evening, and enjoyed seeing such a polished and great performance from everybody.
Joffy Girling and myself have been working on Risen!- The Musical for four years and tomorrow the stage premiere takes place at the New Theatre Royal. We have been so fortunate in having the production performed by the London Touring Cast together with the Portsmouth Gospel Choir. If you have not yet got tickets then please visit www.risenthemusical.com or www.newtheatreroyal.com We are so looking forward to what we are sure is going to be an amazing weekend. Hope to see you on Friday or Saturday.
This personal message from Heavilyn Sarpong, the Vocal Director of the Portsmouth Gospel Choir, has reached nearly 10000 people and is closing in on 3000 views. Hope you enjoy it!
Heavilyn Sarpong – Vocal Director of the Portsmouth University Gospel Choir with Terry Powell on FM Express – promoting Risen!- The Musical
“Here I am because I love You” – featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill
So Heavilyn, Philipa and Francine of the Portsmouth University Gospel Choir went with me to London on Sunday to meet the London Touring Cast in rehearsal. The cast and choir all got on brilliantly and it was fantastic seeing them working together on the vocal harmonies that are going to delight all those that see “Risen!- The Musical” Nov 6th an 7th at the New Theatre Royal.
When we returned to Portsmouth we were interviewed by my good friend Terry Powell for his FM Express programme “Terry in the Building.” I don’t think it will shock anyone when I say the focus of the interview was “Risen!- The Musical” but Heavilyn also shared how she, Philipa and Francine all have parents that originate in Ghana- a country where my church, Holy Rood and ex school, Crofton have close links.
Here is some more information on the Portsmouth University Gospel Choir. Btw one reason why this blog is a day late is that we have been working on a “Risen!” promo clip and today Heavilyn was filmed at the Global Fire studios – Global Fire Director Ross Gill played guitar, sang, recorded and produced many Mustard Seed albums including “Heart and Soul” “His Story” and the featured album of today “Where Would I Be Without You? “
Here are some more details of the Portsmouth University Gospel Choir:
University of Portsmouth Gospel Choir affectionately known as PGC was first founded 5 years ago by a group of four students who had a vision to spread the Gospel through their voices. Today, PGC is in its 5th year and its growth has been tremendous, with a community of over 70 members.
Our vision this year is led by a scripture from Romans, which reads:
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
We, as a community of students, understand the calling God has given, us and are filled with a fire to serve Christ through praise and worship; our aim being to become more than just a University choir; we want to spread the Gospel to the masses.
Last year we sang at weddings, funerals and we were fortunate enough to become 1st runners up for the University Gospel Choir of the Year after being selected as a wildcard. We want to keep up this momentum, rehearsing every Monday and performing as often as possible.
If you wish to learn any more about PGC, please contact us on our email gospel-choir@upsu.net or on Facebook or Instagram under Portsmouthgospelchoir .
The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth – re- opened yesterday after two years of refurbishment and now ready for Risen!- The Musical Nov 6h – 7th
“Restore Us Lord God Almighty” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Where Would I Be Without You?”
So last week I promised to tell you more of the Portsmouth University Gospel Choir and what I can tell you is that they are fantastic! I went to a rehearsal with them on Wednesday and was bowled over by their beautiful voices, their enthusiasm, their commitment and their obvious love for Jesus.
It was such a great idea of Caroline Sharman the CEO of the New Theatre Royal to suggest that I contact the Portsmouth University Gospel Choir because Portsmouth University have been a major partner in the refurbishment of the Theatre – and what a great way to advance that association than to have representatives of the University taking part in the first local community production at the NTR.
All in the Gospel Choir are fantastic but I have been working particularly closely with Heavilyn, Shani, Philippa Francine and Leslie and would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all the hard work they are putting into making Risen!- The Musical the huge success that we are sure it will be. On Sunday some of them are journeying with me to London to join the London Touring Cast for a joint rehearsal, but more of that next week and hopefully also a promo video clip.
Part of the pleasure of coming to Risen!- The Musical will be to see the wonderful renovation work that has been done to the iconic Victorian Theatre that is the New Theatre Royal in which legends like Laurel and Hardy and Morecombe and Wise have performed. As the Theatre reopened last night after two years of extensive refurbishment I would like to pay tribute to all the team at the New Theatre Royal who have worked so hard and for so long to ensure that it, not only opened on time, but also looks absolutely fabulous. Those in the NTR team that I have been working particularly closely with are Caroline Sharman the CEO – Lexi Rich, the Programming Coordinator, Sheena Hulme, the Operations Director and Luc Batory, the Technical Manager.
These are really exciting times for Mustard Seed Songs but I do not want to forget some of the tragedy and sadness that is prevalent in so many parts of our world. The pictures on television of the plight of refugees, the civil war in Syria, the persecution of Christians in countries like Iran, Eritrea, Pakistan and Sudan are testimony that, for so many people, life is desperate. It is for this reason that the featured song this week is “Restore Us Lord God Almighty” – a lament with words taken from Psalms 80 and 88.
Some of the London Touring Cast – “Having a bit of fun with Ken after the Coventry Pentecost Festival”
A Worship Song featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Where would I Be Without You?”
Two weeks ago I was telling you how we managed to obtain a professional cast for the production of Risen!- The Musical at the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, November 6th and7th.
So London College of Music (LCM) Lecturer, Niamh Mcguckin said yes to my request for her to direct a full stage production of Risen! rather than a concert for the forthcoming Coventry Pentecost Festival. Incidentally this was being organised by Hope of Coventry, with one my close friends Darren Bovis Coulter being an organiser – let me pause here to offer my congratulations to Darren for being appointed Pastor to the Limbrick Wood Baptist Church in Coventry.
Anyway Niamh then recruited a cast of 12 performers, either post graduates from LCM or students in their fourth and final year. So I drove up to Ealing to meet them at a rehearsal in one of the LCM studios – I was greeted by Niamh and on the way to the studio could hear the cast singing “Jesus is My Lord” and it sounded awesome. I was then introduced to Leah, Claire, Jodie, Mikey, Johnny, Andrew, Kieran, Jacob, Benny, Ennio and Adam. Leah sang for me the opening to “Jesus is my Lord” then Claire “My Beloved King” and Jodie “I have seen Him” – I knew straight away that these guys were going to be something special!
They all rehearsed so hard and in just a few weeks were ready to perform at the Coventry Pentecost Festival. We are promoting Risen!- The Musical to be the stage premiere at the New Theatre Royal and it is exactly that, however that is not to undermine the importance of the Coventry Pentecost production. There were no wings as the show took place in a large marquee and so all the cast were on stage throughout. They were fantastic and received a hugely deserved standing ovation. Both the cast and I learnt so much and the Coventry production was an essential part of the Risen! journey.
Following the show I spoke with Darren who offered some positive criticism and from that a new song was added to the second half, and some scenes and songs re scheduled. Later Niamh suggested we make Risen!- The Musical a three Act rather than a two Act show and of course that makes really good sense with Act One -Crucifixion, Act Two – Resurrection and Act Three – Ascension.
So all in all I am confident that we now have the definitive version of Risen!- The Musical to offer to you on November 6th and 7th – especially as we will also have the Portsmouth University Gospel Choir as part of the Show- but more of that next week.
JE and SUS from the album “Uplifted” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard with the Mustard Seed Soul Band
I have put part two of the London Touring Cast story on hold for a week because we have an article in the Portsmouth News today written by Rev Steve Marsh, the Curate for Holy Rood and St Edmund’s, Stubbington. Here it is below:
I’m delighted to see that a Christian musical based on the story of Jesus’ Resurrection will be performed by a professional cast in Portsmouth next month.
Risen! – The Musical was first performed two years ago in our church, Holy Rood, where it had a fantastic reception. It used songs written by a member of our congregation, Ken Shearsmith.
Ken is quite unusual, in that he has no musical training at all, but relies on God to inspire him with melodies and lyrics. The songs he is inspired with are amazing.
The show has been completely revamped since we last saw it and the new version will be premiered by a cast of 14 professionals who trained at the London College of Music. The show will also feature the award-winning Portsmouth University Gospel Choir.
The plot takes us through the last week of Jesus’s life, including the Last Supper, Jesus’s crucifixion and the reaction of his disciples, then his Resurrection and his appearances to those disciples. It shows us just how amazing it must have been for them to see their friend Jesus risen from the dead.
There was a studio produced double CD of Risen!- The Musical and the person who mastered the songs is a Lecturer at the London College of Music. He spoke to a colleague in the Performing Arts Department, Niamh Mcguckin, who became keen to become Director/Producer. Niamh recruited a cast of postgraduates with Degrees in Musical Theatre and plays the role of Mary Mother of Jesus herself.
It means the production will have a real West End feel. I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like now – I’m sure it will be a very powerful production.
It will be one of the first productions in the recently-revamped New Theatre Royal, on Guildhall Walk. It will be staged at 7.30pm on November 6, and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on November 7. It is fantastic that Risen!- The Musical will be part of an iconic venue like the New Theatre Royal and I’m looking forward to seeing how that has changed too.
Tickets are priced at £16.50 and £14.50 (£10 for the matinee) and are available on 023-9264 9000.
RISEN! – THE MUSICAL New Theatre Royal, Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth November 6: 7.30pm November 7: 2.30pm and 7.30pm Tickets: £16.50/£14.50/£10 available on 023-9264 9000 or www.newtheatreroyal.com Details: www.risenthemusical.com Risen!- The Musical is produced by Mustard Seed Songs in association with Faith and Football
Joffy Girling and Andrew Bourbon mastering the “Risen!- The Musical” CD at the London College of Music.
“There’s More Than One Way of Saying I Love You” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard with the Mustard Seed Soul Band from the album “Uplifted” recorded and produced by Bob Ross
So how have we managed to get a professional cast to perform in Risen!- The Musica.l Friday November 6th– Saturday November 7th at the New Theatre Royal Portsmouth? Well quite simply God has opened the doors.
Joffy Girling, an ex- Crofton student has been working with me on Risen!-The Musical for four years- basically I sing the songs in my head to him and he transforms them into music. He is the perfect person to do this as he is a multi- instrumentalist with a Ist Class Honours Degree in Sound Engineering and Production from the University of Birmingham.
When we were considering who to use to master the Risen! double CD Joffy thought of his ex-Lecturer from Birmingham, Dr Andrew Bourbon – who is now a Senior Lecturer at the London College of Music (LCM) in Ealing – part of the University of West London. Andrew agreed to meet Joffy thinking it was just a catch up with his old star pupil. However he agreed to take on the mastering project not really realising how long a job it would be- 38 tracks! It was during the mastering process that he began to love the music so much so that he talked about it to his friend who is the Head of Performing Arts at LCM. From this another Lecturer from the department, Niamh McGuckin became interested and I met with her during a mastering session at LCM.
I had a plan by which I was looking for students of Musical Theatre to learn the Risen! songs in order for them to perform Risen! in concert format at the forthcoming Coventry Pentecost Festival. I also had in mind that the same group, having learnt the songs, could then be involved in a summer vacation workshop with a view to Risen!- becoming a stage production- hopefully at the New Theatre Royal Portsmouth scheduled to re- open in the Autumn after two years of extensive refurbishment. As my conversation unfolded with Niamh I could see that she was really interested -she had heard the music and gave me the impression she would like to take part in the production herself. In the end I bit the bullet and asked if there was any chance of making the proposed Coventry concert, not a concert but a full stage production – and even though there was little time left to rehearse the answer from Niamh was an emphatic “YES.”
And how the next episode unfolded I will share with you next week.
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