Arts News

The Thorn Birds – World Premiere of an Epic Romantic Musical

The legend is that there is a bird which sings just once in its life. From the moment it leaves the nest, it ceaselessly searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it finds one. When it does, it tragically impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. But even as it dies it gives voice to one last and final song, more beautiful than any other ever heard upon earth. The best, says the legend, is only bought at the cost of great pain.

This mythical creature is the thorn bird, and its name provided the title for one of the greatest romantic novels of modern times. So far THE THORN BIRDS has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, and when in the eighties it was turned into a mini-series, it was one of the most widely watched TV dramas ever. Now, 31 years after the publication of the novel, author Colleen McCullough has turned THE THORN BIRDS into a stage musical.

It promises to be an impressive theatrical event, presented by a truly impressive theatrical team. THE THORN BIRDS will be staged by The Wales Theatre Company, directed by its internationally-acclaimed, multi-award-winning Artistic Director Michael Bogdanov.

The Composer is German opera star Gloria Bruni, who – appropriately enough given the religious component in THE THORN BIRDS’ plot – has composed, and had performed, her Requiem for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

The sheer class continues right through to the Costume Design, which comes from the designer of Princess Diana’s wedding dress, David Emmanuel. What could be more fitting, for a show which recounts one of the most epic romances of the 20th century?

For THE THORN BIRDS is an immense, heroic tale of hardship, violence, dark and conflicting passions, naked ambition, secrets, lies, money, manipulation and a scandalous legacy of forbidden love, spanning the lives of three generations of the Cleary family as they struggle to survive in the harsh and rugged vastness of the Australian outback. It is a magnificent, sweeping story, the real stuff of which great musicals are made.

It comes from the pen of a woman whose own story is arguably as remarkable as that of one of her characters. Born into the nomadic life of stockmen and sheep-shearers in Western Australia 71 years ago, through sheer grit, determination and application, Colleen McCullough achieved academic excellence and eventually became a teacher and director of the Department of Neurophysiology at Yale, where she worked for a decade.

This work – even at such an elevated level – was so poorly remunerated that Colleen turned to writing to eke out a living. THE THORN BIRDS was the result, and changed her life for ever.

She is married to Ric Robinson, a direct descendant of Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian (and two English Marquesses), she’s written seventeen novels in multiple different genres, she’s restlessly interested in practising everything from astronomy to mediaeval illumination and anatomical illustration, she holds the Order of Australia, and she’s been awarded the title of Living National Treasure of the Australian nation.

THE THORN BIRDS musical has been some 15 years in gestation. It was in the early nineties that Gloria Bruni speculatively sent Colleen McCullough three songs on the Thorn Birds theme. She was deeply impressed, the two decided to work together on creating a full-scale musical, and this work is the final outcome.

Arguably, a long journey for the desired outcome, just like that which the mythical bird of the title undertakes for its thorn tree. Will the song that emerges at the end is as beautiful as the song of legend? With such legendary talents involved in this great project, the odds are far more than even.

THE THORN BIRDS, A MUSICAL
BOOK AND LYRICS – COLLEEN MCCULLOUGH
MUSIC – GLORIA BRUNI
DIRECTOR – MICHAEL BOGDANOV
CASTING TO TO BE ANNOUNCED
TOURING THE UK FROM SPRING 2009

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