A live recording has been released of Billy the Kid: A New Musical, commissioned and developed by the National Youth Music Theatre which had its première at Leicester’s Curve in August 2017.
The musical was created by Ben Frost, who worked on the original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, The Wizard of Oz and the Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour, and Richard Hough, writer for BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends, The News Quiz and The Now Show.
They said, “the simple message of our show, that we get more done when we work together in peace, has never seemed so timely. Themes of immigration and inclusion are very much at the forefront of Billy the Kid, heavy themes but tempered with the lightest comedy.
“The songs range from a small John Denver-esque ballad right up to a full-sized Hollywood chase sequence via several big band jazz numbers. It’s no exaggeration to say that the full score would have been a challenge for a professional ensemble; for a youth band it was a rodeo-riding, whip-cracking adventure, but they proved themselves to be more than up to the task.
“What we developed in our rehearsal room last Easter and then took to Curve is a story we are uniquely proud of, the pinnacle of our professional lives so far.”
Independent label Auburn Jam Records has released the recording which is available to download via all major online retailers.