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.