Jordan Luke Gage pens new musical REDCLIFFE

The Other Palace will present a workshop of new musical REDCLIFFE written by Jordan Luke Gage.

After a sold-out presentation of Act 1 as part of MTFestUK 2024, the new musical returns with public workshop performances that offer a first look at the full show from 29 – 31 May at The Other Palace Studio in London

REDCLIFFE, written by Jordan Luke Gage (Bonnie & Clyde, Heathers, &Juliet) and orchestrations & musical direction by Ben Tomalin, is based on the true events of William Critchard and Richard Arnold in Redcliffe, Bristol in the 1750s and is an epic tale of forbidden love during the persecution people faced for hundreds of years.

William is feeling the pressure to find a wife whilst also being the breadwinner to his family. His mother’s nagging doesn’t help. When he meets Richard, he unlocks a world he had never dared to explore before and it’s clear there is no going back.

Making up the cast of the workshop are:

• Lauren Drew (Kinky Boots, Heathers The Musical, Six The Musical, Les Misérables) as Esther
• Jordan Luke Gage (Bonnie & Clyde, Heathers The Musical, &Juliet The Musical) as William
• Nadine Higgin (Legally Blonde at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Twelfth Night, A Winter’s Tale The Comedy of Errors at The Globe; The Crucible at The National Theatre) as Georgie
• Leanne Jones (Hairspray, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, The Naked Truth) as Landlady
• Matteo Johnson (Halls the Musical, Bat Out Of Hell, Jersey Boys) as Jacob
• Jessica Lee (Miss Saigon, The Prince of Egypt, Evita, Les Misérables) as Louisa
• Rebecca Lock (Marry Poppins, Heathers The Musical, School of Rock, Elf The Musical) as Mother
• Joseph Peacock (Kin, Titanic, Bat Out Of Hell, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) as Arthur/2nd Officer
• Steven Serlin (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Heathers The Musical, Hairspray, Priscilla The Party!) as Judge/Officer
• Liam Tamne (Bonnie & Clyde, The Prince of Egypt, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables) as Richard
• Jess Douglas Welsh (RuneSical and Woven at the Edinburgh Fringe) as Abigail
• Russell Wilcox (Annie, Billy Elliot, Sunset Boulevard, Bonnie & Clyde, The Producers) as Landlord John Baber

Writer Jordan Luke Gage said: “REDCLIFFE is a story that I have been living with for some time now so I’m very excited to present it in this workshop form to an audience. I based the musical on an article I found in the Bristol archives that explores the complexity of navigating a forbidden gay relationship in a world of societal pressure and expectations. Ultimately it is the exploration of the human heart and the lengths we will go to be able to live freely.”

Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director of The Other Palace, added: “I established MTFestUK 5 years ago to allow writers of new musicals to play, explore, and present in front of an audience at the earliest stages. I have worked with Jordan many times and whilst I knew of his incredible ability on stage, I had no idea of his passion and craft as a writer. To say I am blown away is an understatement.

“With REDCLIFFE, he has made a musical that speaks to our generation yet at the same time puts the spotlight on a moment in time that needs remembering. It’s brilliant to see that the work of The Other Palace and The Turbine Theatre in showcasing new writers is bearing fruit. I can’t wait to see how the future of REDCLIFFE takes shape.”

REDCLIFFE will be presented in a workshop format with actors using scripts at times, with limited tickets available to the public.

Produced by The Other Palace and funded via the venue’s Development Fund, where 50p of every ticket sold in the Main House goes to fund developing new work. Further plans for the production will be revealed in due course.