As we approach the end of 2022, we've put together our stand out moments in a busy year.
A Magna Carta Progress
This year has been a controversial one for human rights. In March Tom sat down with human rights lawyer Adam Wagner as a guest on his 58th Be Human Podcast - Tolerance, Decency, Kindliness. ‘A fascinating discussion’ was interspersed with excerpts of 'amazing music' from Dreams of Peace and Freedom.
Our song cycle is at the centre of the Magna Carta Progress which we launched on Magna Carta Day in June to celebrate, educate, and protect universal rights and fundamental freedoms.
The first stage of that Progress took us north to the Edinburgh Festival which was celebrating 75 years this year. We performed in the spirit of the 8 of 1947, who turned up uninvited to the very first post-war Festival, becoming pioneers of today's Festival Fringe. Welcomed by C Venues, we played nightly for 3 weeks at C Cubed, on the Royal Mile. The performances sparked debate in Scottish Legal News that this was a 'Swansong for the European Convention'. As the controversy continues into 2023 we are embarking on the second stage of our Progress. Our rolling Crowdfunder would welcome your support.
Two Tigers
Sue Casson's musical Two Tigers was first produced at the Edinburgh Fringe for the centenary of the birth of modernist writer Katherine Mansfield. It tells the story of her life and love affair with John Middleton Murry and whilst we were in Edinburgh, Sue was interviewed for the Katherine Mansfield Society Autumn Newsletter about her plans for a staging next year, which is the centenary of the writer's death. Throughout the year as she has been reimagining her first musical she has written a series of blogs - Mansfield Musings. They were featured in the Katherine Mansfield House & Garden Newsletter Spring newsletter.
I Heart Musicals
This year singer Lily Casson has been sharing her passion for musicals in blog posts, microcasts and playlists. In 2023 these will be launched together for the first time on a brand new website to coincide with the staging of her live show I Heart Musicals.
Last Call for Nefertiti
2022 marked 100 years since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. As modern Egyptologists speculated on a possible new discovery - Queen Nefertiti, Sue Casson & The Brannick Academy provided THE soundtrack, re-releasing their title song to Tom Blackmore's 'bold and inventive' film, 'Last Call for Nefertiti'. This was shown as part of the Sydney Global Fringe and is now available for on-demand streaming at C the Arts.
Fill the Silence Tour
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, as grandson of Nuremberg prosecutor, David Maxwell Fyfe Tom was invited to sign a declaration in support of Justice for Ukraine and to publicize this international petition in May we toured Dreams of Peace & Freedom. Discover the places we performed at our Fill our Silence tour.
Website Update
During 2022, following a mass migration to Wix, our family of websites have all been given a new look. Here at English Cabaret we started this monthly blog post to shine a light on the background to our shows and projects and it has already made one of the Top 10 Cabaret Blogs by Feedspot! You can check out our other websites from links at our About page.
Thank You!
Finally, a big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us this year - coming along to shows, following us, and contributing to make it all possible. We couldn't have done it without you. Here's to more highlights in 2023!