The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) have always been an important part of the UK’s musical theatre scene, and have been involved in the promotion of new work for a long time. There’s not a great deal of this committed to recording, so it was good to hear that their production of Prodigy was being recorded by Auburn Jam Music.

Prodigy, the new musical from Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary, was commissioned and developed by NYMT for its premiere production at The St James Theatre in August 2015. The story follows the backstage drama of teenage hormones and parental pressure, when five finalists gather to compete to be Britain’s best new classical music star. With a live televised final looming, emotions run high and we witness everything from bitter vendettas to unexpected romance, to find out which of the competitors will rise to the top and be crowned the winner.

Brunger and Cleary, the writing team behind the acclaimed Leicester Curve production of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, have been lauded by The Stage as “One of musical theatre’s most dynamic writing partnerships”. They are particularly delighted to be releasing their first Original Cast Recording with Prodigy which was written and developed closely with the cast of 27 young people between the ages of 11-23, from all over the UK, with more than half the cast in actor-musician roles. The original production at the St James Theatre came together under the direction of Kate Golledge, with musical direction from Candida Caldicot and choreography by Darragh O’Leary, and received high praise from reviewers.

The first thing that has to be noted about this recording is the immense amount of talent captured on the recording. Not just in musical theatre skills, but also in performing the vast array of instruments that seem to be being mastered here. The show itself seems a mix of Young Musician Of The Year, X Factor and Child Genius, but it’s a mix that works - very well. It’s a very clever piece of theatre writing, and is as refreshing as it is musical. The musical numbers propel the story along well, and there is just enough libretto included for to you to feel part of the production whilst you listen in on the trials and tribulations of the kids, and their parents.

The finalists are the real stars of this piece, each not only able to hold their own with the musical theatre singing, but also with playing the instruments they are supposed to be virtuoso on. However, I also enjoyed the parents, and especially their musical number. They add a depth and a reality to the piece, and along with the other adults make this a very well rounded musical.

I really enjoyed this recording, and I hope to see and hear more from both the writers and the performers, all of whom I’m sure have a successful career ahead of them in the world of musical theatre. Or classical music. Or both.

9

Ian Gude