- You've read the books, now hum the author...
With Carlton Edwards, Laurence has written songs for the RSC's West End and international hit The Shakespeare Revue, late night cabarets and their own comic operetta Strand Collaboratorial. His plays range from the comic Shh... and Departures to the poignant World War One reflection Christmas Poppies. A passion for Shakespeare inspired WR4 RT U RMEO, the distillation of Romeo & Juliet for young audiences and the Frolics in Fairyland, A Midsummer Nights Dream presented as Victorian Music Hall. The pantomime tradition continued with such productions as Cinderella at St Georges Theatre, London, and in various plays and verses for schools and colleges.
SONGS
The Shakespeare Revue (Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican, Vaudeville Theatre in the West End & International tours 1995-2003, various productions 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010)
Christopher Luscombe and Malcolm McKee's acclaimed evening of songs and sketches inspired by the Bard, with words and music by Noel Coward, Tom Lehrer, Cole Porter and Victoria Wood. The show has starred the compilers themselves with Janie Dee, Susie Blake, Jan Hartley, Clive Francis, Paul Greenwood, Nicola Keen, Clive Haywood, Gemma Craven, Martin Connor and other distinguished performers. Laurence was invited to write for the show and provided the lyrics to four songs including "Cleopatra's wonderful lament: The Heroine The Opera House Forgot", No Parts for Women (revived in Malcolm McKee's The Best Will in the World) and contributed to The Bard of Avon and Put Out The Light. In 2010, the show has continued to prove a palapable hit. Staged on board Swan Hellenic cruises to Africa, the Middle East and India, braving summer rain in the open air in Liverpool and as a hughlight of the first Austrlian National Shakespeare Festival. The past few seasons have seen the show back at Stratford upon Avon and playing venues as diverse as the City Varieties in Leeds, the Wellington Repertory Theatre in New Zealand and several town squares in the Dordogne, France!
Shakespeare in Season (Kew Gardens 2003 and tour): contributed to Malcolm McKee's Shakespearean celebration
The Mercury Revue (with Angela Richards, Janie Dee, Clive Carter and Steven Pacey, directed by Julia McKenzie at the Jermyn Street Theatre, London, 1995)
Late & Lyrical (Starring Issy Van Randwyck, Jermyn Street Theatre, London, 1997)
PLAYS
WR4 RT U RMEO - a distillation of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet for a young audience. (Fly Monkey's production at The Gatehouse Theatre, London, 2002; The Fox Theatre London, 2001) .
"The old tale of forbidden love, family feuds and unhappy fate presented in a new light altogether in this abridged and rearranged version, by removing the emphasis from the young lovers and focusing it instead on the supporting characters. Something deeper is thereby revealed, something that Is not obvious in productions where the attention is fixed exclusively on Romeo and Juliet and their fate. The eventual tragedy is made more poignant by the fact that Romeo and Juliet figured so significantly in the lives of each, who we forget thereby lose someone they loved."
SHH... and DEPARTURES (Tower Theatre, London; Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin 2001):
In Shh... we meet six couples in the auditorium of a concert hall. A comedy that alternatives from the poignant to the farcical, of whispered conversations from relationships on the edge.
Departures follows six very different women as they pass through Heathrow Airport and jet off towards new dreams. Play available online at www.imprintillyria.com
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Lawyer (Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin):
Popular with schools, this courtroom satire showcases Marvin Spoilsport QC as he manipulates "justice" for fairy tale villains.
Life Support:
Confession time for a mother and daughter. Visiting hour at hospital reveals some deep dark secrets. Play available online at www.imprintillyria.com
Christmas Poppies:
In their own words, the soldiers of World War One tell of Christmases 1914-1918. Letters home from officers and men from Britain, France, the USA and Germany. As a one man show, two hander and full company play, an enthralling, thought-provoking and touching glimpse of humanity.
MUSICALS
Strand Collaboratorial:
If William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were to have composed a Savoy Opera about the absurdity of their own relationship and the machinations of their impressario D'Oyly Carte... imagine what might have been. When some of the brightest talent from Britain's opera and theatre companies got together to record Carlton Edwards' and Laurence Phillips' delicious music and words, the musical evening was something very special. More details soon....
The Déja Revue
at the Afterlife Café:
A final performance for the legends of French Chanson. First staged in 1994, this is a celebration of the women of French Music Hall, from Toulouse Lautrec's Jane Avril at the Moulin Rouge to Joséphine Baker's triumphant comeback in 1975. The songs of Edith Piaf (pictured) and Jacques Brel feature in an evocation of the heyday of Parisian Cabaret.
Frolics in Fairyland:
Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Deam made over as an Edwardian Pantomime. With Titania as the Dame and Puck as Principal Boy, the evening features much loved songs by Marie Lloyd and lesser known gems from the golden age of Music Hall.
Pantomimes & Children's Plays
Various pantomimes and Christmas shows including Cinderella (St Georges Theatre Tufnell Park, 2001 starring Carol Decker); Snow White (with original songs written with Carlton Edwards); A Candle and No Gameboy; The Great Teatime Ice Cream Mystery.
To contact Laurence Phillips, send an email now to lolly@laurencephillips.com
