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