Scribbles: A Night of New Musical Theatre Writing (Volume 2) The Other Palace, London

Musical theatre, too often looked down upon and considered a genre rather than a form, can be an extraordinarily powerful meaning-making tool. It was fascinating to attend Scribbles: A Night of New Musical Theatre Writing to understand what styles and topics are being currently explored by a new generation of writers and performers, and what we can expect from musical theatre in the future. 

The evening showcased 19 new musical theatre songs over 2 hours and 15 minutes. The wide variety and breadth of voices, techniques, and subjects made it eclectic and vibrant, though – since the point is to showcase new writing – it would have been very useful to be able to access the lyrics of the songs, either printed or digital, in order to appreciate the craft in full, especially when listening to juxtaposing parts. The musical director, Gary Jerry, supported the evening with smooth piano playing that seamlessly transitioned from one song to the other. 

Highlights included the song Ada Lovelace, with witty music and lyrics by Tamiko Dooley and Julie Tsang, performed with lovely crispness and intent by Zoe Vegh-Gross. Vegh-Gross, together with Ellie Marchant, Hollie Smith-Nelson and Sam DeFeo, also starred in another tremendously captivating piece, Edging to Heaven, from the musical The Gardening Club by Carleigh McRitchie and Bella Wright; the show, a pop-rock comedy about a secret birth control operation in 1960’s Georgia, has skill and potential, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it premiering in the West End in the future. 

Another personal favourite was The Day I’ll Never See, a poignant duet perfectly harmonized by Mathilda Mae and Emily Proudlock. The vision behind its musical The Lights, written by Maisie Fawcett, Sophia Holmes, and Ben Tomalin, is exploring the meaning of inheriting a world in (literal and metaphorical) darkness – an intriguing idea I’d love to see more of. 

All the writers and performers were excellent. Exceptional vocals were delivered by powerhouses Megan Ellis, Sophia Duncan and Elisha D’Rozario, all of them strong and precise in their respective pieces. Billy Marsden, Daniel Walford, and Sean Kwok shined for their earnest performances, allowing us insight into the vulnerability and hope of their characters. 

The evening drew to a close with a performance of Bus Stop (Veronica Mansour and Abs Wilson) by special guest Elena Breschi; her emotional magnetism complemented her rich voice perfectly. The future of musical theatre is looking bright: hopefully, we’ll see some of these pieces developed and produced soon. 

Keep an eye on The Other Palace website for news of the next Scribbles event.