Auburn Jam Records have a proven track record of releasing quality recordings. So, I am always interested in their latest releases, and especially cast recordings of new musicals. Their latest release is the studio concept album of Daniel Finn’s original musical faerytale The Clockmaker’s Daughter, which premiered in London in 2015 and has, to date, been nominated for no less than 11 awards.

The album cast is led by Chrisine Allado (Hamilton, In The Heights), Fra Fee (The Ferryman - West End & Broadway, Les Misérables - West End & film), Ramin Karimloo (Anastasia, Phantom of the Opera), Hannah Waddingham (Kiss Me Kate and HBO’s Game of Thrones), Matthew Croke (Aladdin, Funny Girl), Lauren James Ray (Wicked, Putting It Together - Hope Mill Theatre) and Graham Hoadly (Fame - National Tour, Guys & Dolls - Kilworth House). The cast is completed by ensemble performances from Barry Keenan, Emma Warren, Seán Carey, Caroline Kay, Matthew McCabe, Rebecca Gilliland, Leah Pinney, Alan McHale, and Suzi Zuzu Knudsen.

The Clockmaker’s Daughter, an original story with original music, is set in the fictional Irish town of Spindlewood. Like most towns of age, Spindlewood has its traditions. But no practice, custom or old wives’ warning is so firmly adhered to as ‘The Turning of the Key’. Every year, on the last night of winter, as the first day of spring unfolds, the townsfolk gather to take part in a strange ritual... The Clockmaker’s Daughter is a beautiful story built around themes of prejudice, discrimination, animosity and a fear of the unknown - a folk musical with a specific, yet timeless, feel.

Writers Michael Webborn and Daniel Finn met during a workshop at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2010. The Clockmaker’s Daughter is their first full-length musical, which premiered at the Landor Theatre in Clapham. The show went on to a sell-out run and critical success. In 2016, it completed a further sell-out run at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall and was also produced by Trinity Laban.

Right from the get-go, this recording oozes appeal. The material and cast are excellent in equal measures. There’s some of the greatest names of British theatre on here, some of them our best-kept secrets. Waddingham and Karimloo may be the closest to theatrical ‘household names’ featured, but for me it’s Allado who is the star on this recording I saw Allado in In The Heights and was blown away, and she doesn’t disappoint here. Her performance of ‘A Story of My Own’ is just wonderful, and deserves to become a musical theatre classic.

The material is modern, and the orchestration is beautiful - always complementing, never over-bearing. The live strings really make the difference, and have been produced beautifully. This is a recording I’ve listened to several times this week, and each time I’ve grown to love it more. If you enjoy new musicals, and ones of quality, then give this a try.

9

Ian Gude