An original musical by Julian Ng
We had great fun making this video of ‘The Virgin Queen‘ during lockdown.
Aoife Beer plays HRH Queen Elizabeth I in a lighter mood, sipping tea in her garden, while asking for more theatre productions to be put on. Somewhat of a sad paradox right now, given how theatres have gone dark.
Still, flick yourself back to the late 16th century, and imagine how the plagues had closed down theatres as well… and the parallels are a little scary.
Enjoy the video! 🙂
Another song from #KitMusical hits the web today. Jack Reitman, the 2020 Best Actor Winner at the Offies (Off West End Awards), gives his take on ‘A Different Vow‘.
Our hero, Kit, wonders what would have happened if he had taken up monastic orders instead of becoming a dramatist in London.
Let us know what you think. 🙂
Following the premiere of Kit’s Soliloquy, we are releasing a new version of Shoemaker’s Son, performed by Jack Reitman.
Feedback is welcome.
Enjoy!
May 30 is an important day in the Marlowe canon. It is when he was allegedly killed in a rooming house in Deptford, back in 1593.
This year, May 30 also happens to be Canterbury Marlowe May Day – an annual event organised by the The Marlowe Society.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event was run exclusively online, which also saw participation from people outside of the UK.
It was a fitting time to introduce a brand new song from Kit.
Kit’s Soliloquy comes at a crucial point during the play when all the players close in on Kit after the publication of the Dutch church libels. Alone, and fearful of what lies ahead, Kit ruminates over his life until then.
The song is performed by Jack Reitman, the 2020 Winner for Best Male Actor at the Offies (Off West-End Awards). Enjoy!
Saturday, 30th May, will be Marlowe May Day. Originally meant to be a get-together event, this has now changed into a virtual event.
It’s interesting because new research has come about to suggest that Kit Marlowe may have written a scene in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.
The online event will look at that while carrying out a reading of the play, with Dr Ildiko Solti as a the director.
#KitMusical fans may want to join in, as we will be dropping a surprise #somethingnew from the show. 🙂
The Online Event is free, but donations to the Marlowe Society are welcome.
So, we had a little more time on our hands because of the coronavirus lockdown, and decided to invest it in #KitMusical.
Here’s a little drawing showcasing some of the elements that are referenced in #KitMusical and in Kit’s life… can you spot them all?
In the meantime, stay safe and healthy!
On the 11th July, four songs were showcased for the first time for Kit the Musical. The showcase took place at the Canterbury Baptist Church during the Canterbury Arts Conference.
Three amazing actors took on several roles. Jake Byrom and Tristan Ward, fresh from their success in Rasputin Rocks! took on the roles of William Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe respectively. Jake also became masterspy Robert Poley. Aoife Beer, meanwhile, portrayed Queen Elizabeth I in her big cameo, to perfection.
Here are the songs in order of performance:
Ah, we’ve been quiet for a while but here’s a teaser of The Virgin Queen in rehearsal. Aoife Beer plays Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth I, sardonically.
Enjoy.
A solo number by Kit, entitled ‘A Different Vow‘, made its public debut during the Canterbury Arts Conference café book reading and signing event last night.
The song sees Kit reflecting on his successes after graduating from Cambridge. What if he had fulfilled the terms of his scholarship and gone into the church instead?
Had I made a different vow and served a different master,
would I be here now under the lights and lustre?
Marlowe Day Canterbury 2017 (20th May) gave Kit the Musical writer, Julian Ng, the opportunity to introduce the show formally before an audience.
He spoke about how the musical came about, and describes how Kit Marlowe’s reputation as a bit of a bad boy who liked to drink and brawl was utilised in the show.
He even performed (!) a snippet from a recently-written song which was inspired by raucous ‘East-End numbers’ such as With a Lil Bit o’ Luck from My Fair Lady.
‘Ave a look, guvnor!