THE PRINCES' QUEST
Book by Sophie McQuillan
Music & Lyrics by Henry Winlow
A classic musical fairy tale, or is it? A chance encounter makes Ernest reflect on how his fairy tale life began. Everyone is caught between reality and fantasy. The two princes are looking for love and the princess needs freeing from her metaphorical tower. Meanwhile Tinkerbell wants her friend to realise that she doesn’t need a hero to save her from her curse, and all Bill dreams of is someone to plant his sunflower seeds with. Do they need a cliched happy ending? A real-world adventure full of songs and sass.
August 2016
Edinburgh Fringe Fesitval
February 2016
The Assembly Rooms Theatre, Durham Drama Festival
OUR PRODUCTION
The show was first inspired by a fake news article about an upcoming disney movie about two Princes who go on a quest for a Princess but fall in love with each other. While the movie was never to be, we got thinking that this would be a great story to tell to the world and perfectly fitting for a musical. We moved away from the fantasy world and grounded the show in a modern day setting. Our main aim however was to create an LGBT fairytale that is so rarely told.
While Olivia, our director, led the way, every member of the team, whether production team, performer or band, had a voice in how things were staged and how parts of the show were to be interpreted. Also as writers, myself and Sophie, were both very open to changes throughout the rehearsal process, and after our first performances at Durham Drama Festival. We believed that every opinion of the people involved in the performance was vital, especially for those on the stage, to feel committed to what they were doing.
Henry Winlow, Writer/Producer
"Definitely worthy of a full house."
(Theatre Smart ****, full article)
"An entertaining take on a genre too often set in stone."
(The List, full article)
"Music and lyrics by Henry Winlow were perfectly executed, showing sophistication in both variety and musicality."
(First Night, full article)
"A joyous hour's theatre, ... taken up with hysterical laughter."
(Palatinate Stage, full article)
CAST & CREATIVES
CREATIVE TEAM (August 2016)
Writer / Producer - Henry Winlow
Writer - Sophie McQuillan
Director - Olivia Race
Producer - Genevieve Burns
Musical Director / Keys - Nick Fleet
CAST (August 2016)
Prince Ernest - Joe McWilliam
Princess Katy - Lydia Feerick
Prince Freddie - Asher Glinsman
Tinkerbell - Ellie Jones
Lottie - Bianca Watts
BAND (August 2016)
Keys - Nick Fleet
Bass - Gavin Jackson
Percussion - Dan Sherington
CREATIVE TEAM (February 2016)
Writer / Producer - Henry Winlow
Writer - Sophie McQuillan
Director - Olivia Race
Assistant Director - Nicki Orrell
Producer - Genevieve Burns
Musical Director / Keys - Nick Fleet
CAST (February 2016)
Prince Ernest - Joe McWilliam
Princess Katy - Lydia Feerick
Prince Freddie - Michael Yates
Tinkerbell - Ellie Jones
Lottie - Bianca Watts