When Andrew was asked to write the music for the first musical by the Brueder Grimm Maerchenfestspiele back in 1994, there were some who doubted if it would work. Now, twelve years on, the musicals are an established tradition within the framework of the festival . Not only do they provide the festival with some much needed revenue, but they appeal particularly to the children who visit the festival in large numbers and whose participation is a crucial part of its success. Year after year the public responded to the combination of dramatic and exciting music and lively direction from the Australian-born director Marc Urquhart, best known for his West End Hit, A slice of Saturday Night. Andrew's run of eight hit shows set the standard by which all BGM musicals will be judged. Since 2004 the musical baton has passed to the acclaimed young British composer Alexander Bermange.
The Grimm tales belong to the world. So do my fairy-tale musicals. For that reason I am starting to build up a database of songs from the eight shows, comprising well over a hundred in all, so that other theatre groups may contact myself and the author about performing rights. Many will be downloadable as sound samples.
Keep watching this space. In the meantime enjoy three songs from Die Bremer StadtmusikantenAndrew Lowe Watson