Hello Elle,

So we had a wonderful evening plotting the show and it’s structure. We’ve managed to roughly
select our story for the project, that all the students agree on and I think will make a delightful
musical. This document will be a collaboration of everything I can possibly give you to get started on
the music. Of course you can message me with any further questions and ideas, and I will do my best
to answer.

The Story:

A young boy from Portsmouth, let’s say his name is Jonny, like all other children his age are being
evacuated to the countryside during the second World War. Being the youngest of the family, Jonny
is the only sibling being evacuated, while the rest of them remain in Portsmouth to work. The
children are transported to Winchester, full of amaze and excitement, its as almost as if they are
going on a holiday. Song 1: Adventure awaits for all.

The children are paired with various families to begin their new life, Jonny is the last to be picked,
paired with a hideous pair of sisters. They are only in it to claim money for the child, and only wish
him to do their dirty work, while they enjoy a rest, Jonny works hard doing chores.

Jonny’s only ray of hope is writing letters to his family, hoping that they are alive and well. Song 2: A
Wartime lullaby (Part 1). But over time, Jonny never hears back from his family, he worries for their
safety. We come to realise that the pair of sisters have been hoarding Jonny’s letters, searching
through them for sweets or money. Concerned for his family, Jonny decides to walk back to
Portsmouth, he cannot stay in Winchester a moment longer.

He flees during the night, and begins his adventures. Though the journey seems long, Jonny remains
hopeful that his adventure will reunite him with his family. He travels, guided by the hope of his
mother that he will find them again. Song 2: A Wartime Lullaby (Part 2)

Though the road is long and Jonny tires, he stumbles across a farm where workers meet Jonny, they
take him in and Nurse him to health, give him a packed lunch, and show him that even in the
darkness of war we can all ‘have a little smile’. Song 3: Have a Little Smile. After much fun, Jonny
resumes his journey.

Shortly after birds appear in the sky, well they are planes, the enemy attacks. Jonny falls to the
ground in the hopes of not being hit. He is discovered by a team of British soldiers who rescue him
and board him into their van. They tell him that even in the darkness of war, ‘we must soldier on’.
Song 4: Solider’s Hymn Conveniently we arrive at the army base, which just so happens to be in
Portsmouth. Jonny races home to be reunited with his family.

When Jonny arrives there is a happy reunion. He details his journey to his family of adventure and
discovery. He reassures his family of the lessons he has learnt. (The ending is still in the works right
now, I want it to be hopeful and to convey a message. But for now this is the main story of the show).
Song 5: Adventure awaits for us all. (Reprise)

Song 1: Adventure Awaits Us All

Please ignore the title, you can create your own, it was something I just threw together for now, so
please feel free to find your own motif, but something of that style would be a great name.

My main idea for this song, is its more of the concept of Journey and Adventure. It’s not about the
plot, as I want the song to encapsulate the whole theme of the show, as its not just about his journey
to Winchester, but also his journey back to Portsmouth, As I want this song to have a reprise in the
show at the end, think of it more as the themes of travel, direction, journey, decision, which path do I
choose, right or left, and I mean if you can get the lyrics ‘look forward, look back, look up’ in there
I’m sure all the producers at Winchester will adore that.

I asked the students to give me ideas and themes so below is their ideas that I have collected,
something for you to feed off and add to your pool of ideas.

So they students love the train idea, and the chug of the train becoming the beat that leads us into
the song. I think I’m going to open the show with Jonny writing a letter and that leads us into the
opening number. So an intro of a train chug as he finishes his speech, transitioning us onto the train
would be great. I’m thinking imagery of the students on the train travelling to their unknown
location. This is the opening number, so thinking a catchy tune, big and bright. I want to hook the
audience in with a big exciting number so throw everything you can at this.

(10) 38 Planes (Reprise)/Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere - YouTube

The song ‘Somewhere In the middle of nowhere’ from the musical come from away springs to mind,
that sense of mystery and excitement. The journey they travel on to where? We don’t know.

Some themes that came up was the idea of packing and getting ready to leave. Packing our troubles,
heading in a direction. Also the idea that the sounds of the train could create some onomatopoeia
like cho choosing where we go, something along those lines.

I want the pace to be quite jolly and upbeat, although in the reprise it could start slow and build to
its full tempo. The song does not need to be long, maybe verse, chorus, verse, chorus bridge chorus.
Or something of that style. But the two minute mark to three is plenty of time.

If I could give one theme to this song, I would say the idea of ‘enjoyment’ we want the audience to
enjoy this song and feel their sense of adventure. Let’s wrap the audience up and invite them into
our world for the evening.

Song 2: A Wartime Lullaby

So the idea of this song is a simple tune that a mother may have made up, to comfort her young in
times of struggle. I want to keep it simple and soft, we can relate it to songs like ‘we’ll meet again’ by
Vera Lyn, that simple tune but has a strong message. I’d like us to have this song in two parts, the first
being like a reflection, a memory of the mother, of the comfort and the love. I would like to sing this
exact song again but lift it to a more euphoric hopeful style. The exact same lyrics and melody but
more triumphant, like our lead character has listened to the message and is going to achieve his
dream. Think ‘Go the Distance’ in Hercules, it starts slow and thoughtful, then after he speaks to his
father he sings the same song again, but this time hes full of hope and joy.

The theme of letters is very strong so it was suggested it could start with ‘Dear Mum’ and finish with
‘From Jonny’. Some of the other phrases from our lesson included ‘ we will meet again’ ‘your bed is
waiting for you’ ‘don’t betray your heart’ ‘even the dog misses you’ ‘always a light at the end of a
dark tunnel’ ‘you will always be in my heart’

There was also a theme of the moon and sun that arose like ‘I miss you like the moon’ ’sun and moon
never meet except on the eclipse’ ‘the eclipse is our reunion’.

I know there is a lot of phrases here, but please treat is as just one verse of a song, something simple
and short that we can use would be just fine. I want this to be our sweet tear jerker moment, that
connects the emotion of the piece to our audience. The idea of a child on their own stuck in the
middle of a war, with only a simple lullaby sung by their mother to keep them strong and
courageous.

Song 3: Have a little smile

So this is our laundry dance number, one we plan to use sheets and dance to create a fun uplifting
part to the story. I would really like a dance break in the number, so feel you could use the pattern of
an intro verse, a chorus then a dance break and then another chorus to finish. This number needs to
be big and punchy and lots of fun. Feel free to make this a long number even if you are repeating
phrases as we’d really love to inject a lot of dance into the show as possible.

(10) The Witches of Eastwick (Original 2000 London Cast) - 8. Dirty Laundry - YouTube

Here is a song to give you some inspiration as to what I am imagining for this number, its going to be
whacky and lots of fun.

Some key highlights from the planning session with the students were: words such as Folding.
Chucking. Wild. There was also a concept of all the neighbours or community rallying round to help
with the laundry. Perhaps the children make the sheets muddy. There is a clear morale of ‘working
together’ other phrases such as ‘chin up and do your work’, ‘be nice keep clean’ ‘ dirty old bags, dirty
old hags’

There was an expression of comedy that I am more than happy to write into this song, and there
should be lots of opportunity for shouting over the music and creating this Hussle and bustle. I
believe you can’t be big enough with this number. So give it some welly and throw all you can at it.

Song 4: Soldier Hymn

For now please do not worry about this song, this is a recent idea I want to add into the show, but it’s
also a song I might try to get the kids to write themselves, it will be acapella in the show so no music
is needed, it may be a song I might ask some suggestions from you, but for now please focus on the
three main songs.

Closing statement

I feel that’s everything for now, though I am sure there is plenty more to come, please question me
on anything you have read above. I will happily answer any questions. Have fun, and please do send
me clips, snippets, ideas, anything, do keep me in the loop and I’m sure this is going to be great.