Heswall Arts Festival date for Wilfred Owen musical

Oct 12 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

WILFRED Owen musical drama Bullets and Daffodils will be reprised next week during Heswall Arts Festival.

The production, penned by Wirral songwriter Dean Johnson and based on the war poet’s work, was previewed to audiences at the Lyceum in Port Sunlight last month.

The next performance will take place on Monday, October 17, at Linghams Bookshop on Telegraph Road.

The musical, which is still being developed by Mr Johnson and director Dean Sullivan, has been revised and adapted for the smaller setting with new scenes.

They want to tour the UK before returning to Wirral to perform the musical at the Floral Pavilion Theatre in 2014 as part of commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One.

Former Brookside star Mr Sullivan, who will also narrate the musical for its Heswall debut, said: “I was a school teacher before I became an actor so I am well aware of the dynamics of anŠintimateŠspace.

“We are planning a few surprisesŠfor this performance,”

He added: “I am offered projects all the time but when I came across this I had to get involved.

“Wilfred Owen is such an important poet and has strong local connections.

“ It’s definitely a long way from being Jimmy on the Close.”

Although he was born in Shropshire and died aged just 25 in France near the end of World War One, Owen spent much of his childhood in Birkenhead.

Mr Johnson set up the Wilfred Owen Story, the only museum dedicated to the great poet, in Argyle Street in the town centre earlier this year.

The production tells the story of Owen’s life, with a dozen of his poems set to music. Mr Johnson also wrote songs to help link the storyline.

The cast comprises Chloe Torpey (as Susan Owen) Phil Gwilliam (Tom Owen), Charlie Griffiths (the waitress) and Jay P. McWinen as Wilfred Owen.

LIPA graduate Jay was cast after a long search for an actor to play Wilfred.

Although he makes just a brief appearance in the current version of the musical, he is seen as pivotal to the piece.

Mr Johnson said last month’s previews were “received ecstatically by the audiences”.

He added: “It’s not like the pop albums I’ve written before – with musicals you’ve got to do it to find how it works.

“Blood Brothers toured in schools for years before it even went on a proper stage.

“It’s constantly evolving.”

Bullets and Daffodils starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £4 from Linghams – call 342 7290.

Heswall Arts Festival takes place from October 15-29. Find a full list of events at www.heswallfestival.com/events.htm