THE RAGGED CHILD

Music by David Nield, book and lyrics by Jeremy James Taylor and Frank Whately

Sadler's Wells Theatre, London - 20 January, 1988

Synopsis

A stark and moving account of child deprivation in London in the 1850s which won the coveted Edinburgh Fringe Festival Award, The Ragged Child is about the plight of the poor and destitute, mirrored in the tragic lives of Joe Cooper and his sister Annie. We see Lord Shaftesbury fighting for the education of the ignorant and illiterate poor in the House of Lords, and, from an inauspicious beginning, the 'Ragged Schools' are founded with Lord Shaftesbury as President, but it is too late for Joe and Annie. Based on an important chapter in social history, this show is an ideal vehicle for school projects involving the music, drama and history departments.

Minimum cast:

23 male, 13 female (can be expanded)

Instrumentation:

Pit Band (can be replaced by 1 keyboard player): clarinet db. bass clarinet, 2 horns, 2 percussion, piano db. harmonium, bass. Stage Band: flute, clarinet, cornet, trombone, percussion, violin

Recording: CD available on sale from Josef Weinberger