Announcing a major new British musical, Kisses on a Postcard, featuring a cast of over 50 including West End stars John Owen Jones and Katy Secombe.
Kisses on a Postcard is a thrilling World War Two musical, an intensely moving portrait of an extraordinary episode in British history, packed with memorable songs, danger and humour.
Kisses on a Postcard was written by the late Terence Frisby, author of ‘There’s A Girl In My Soup’, in its day, the longest-running comedy in the history of the West End.
This epic 4-hour production was recorded posthumously at Abbey Road Studios with a 15-piece orchestra and a cast of over 50, led by West End musical theatre stars John Owen Jones (‘Les Miserables’ & ’Phantom of the Opera’) and Katy Secombe (‘Les Miserables’), double Olivier award winner Marcia Warren (‘The Crown)’, Rosie Cavaliero (‘Wurzel Gummidge’), Evelyn Hoskins (‘Waitress’) and including Lance Ellington, one of the amazing vocalists from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and soloist Simon Thomas (‘Phantom of the Opera’).
Set in 1940, it follows the incredible adventures of two London evacuees, Terry, aged 7, and Jack, 11, as they are sent away alone from their family to safety in remote Cornwall.
Fleeing the Blitz bombing of London, the city boys have to adjust to life in the countryside at the home of a Welsh couple, Auntie Rose & Uncle Jack, and their son, Gwyn. Kisses on a Postcard is the heartwarming story of how a tiny village, with its conflicts, kindness, pettiness, generosity and gossip, was turned on its head, first by the arrival of so many city children, then by a whole regiment of black American GIs.
Sending them away for their own safety, the young vackies’ anxious Mum gives them a secret code to let her know how they are coping – by adding ‘Kisses on a Postcard’; one kiss if their new home is terrible and they need rescuing; two kisses if it’s OK; and three kisses if it’s nice.
Dominic Frisby said: “This is an intensely moving musical about an extraordinary time in British history. Those who were evacuated in 1940 will be in their late 80s and 90s now, if they are still with us at all. In many ways ‘Kisses on a Postcard’ is a farewell to that generation. But I played it to some friends in the car last month, and during the evacuation scenes they all said, “that’s exactly what’s happening now in Ukraine.” The story remains so pertinent. Dad said he used to get letters from people in Germany who had been evacuated to escape Allied bombs. If you are anything like me, this story will disarm you in the most unexpected ways. I hope you will find yourself laughing and weeping, as I did, at just what wonderful things the kindest of human beings can be.”
Other cast members and singers include, in alphabetical order: Sherry Baines, Henrietta Bess, Louise Cookman, Lynsday Danvers, Rupert Degas, Ginny Fiol, Valerie Gogan, Paul Jones, Jonathan Kydd, Helen Langford, Trevor Lock, Aideen McQueen, Cathy Murphy, Matt Price, Danny Ward, Mary Woodvine.
More information, including how to listen to Kisses on a Postcard can be found here
