Writers of New Wolsey co-production win Stage Debut Award!

28 Sep 2020 News, Shows

Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, writers of the 2019 musical The Season, which was co-produced by the New Wolsey Theatre and the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton last year, have won the award of Best Composer or Lyricist at The Stage Debut Awards 2020.

When nominated, The Stage wrote of this brand-new romantic-comedy musical that ‘With this charming twist on the traditional festive romcom, Barne and Buchan played with the conventions of a seasonal staple to create a sparky, disarming, small-scale musical treat full of catchy songs.’

The story of Dougal, the Christmas enthusiast who travels to New York City on Christmas Eve for his father’s wedding and who is picked up from the airport there by Robyn, the sister of his stepmother-to-be and a hater of all things festive, the show unravels a a wild weekend in the city that never sleeps, as these two loveable misfits bicker, sight-see, max-out credit cards, search through Tinder and generally try to get through this bizarre Christmas season together.

The production had a cast of only two members (the amazing pair that is Tori Allen-Martin as Robyn and Alex Cardall as Dougal) and the beautiful set transformed the blank stage into a snowglobe New York City. The entire show was a feat of imagination and it went down a storm, given five stars by BroadwayWorld and Beyond the Curtain, and given four by The Times, The Guardian, WhatsOnStage, The Observer and The Stage, among many others.

Barne and Buchan, winners of the 2018 Stiles and Drewe Mentorship Award, filled this heartwarming story with songs that were both hilarious and moving, witty and magical without the clichés, putting the icing on the Christmas cake beautifully.

Other nominees for Best Composer or Lyricist were Jherek Bischoff, for The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre, London, and Robbie Williams, for The Boy in the Dress, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon.

All of us at the New Wolsey Theatre are so proud to have been a part of this dazzling debut show and we are thrilled that the exceptional talent and hard work of Jim and Kit have been recognised with this award.

If, like us, you’re really missing The Season now, make sure you take a look at the production photos and trailers found here – it’ll transport you right back to Christmassy New York!

Plus, The Season website is not to be missed.