3. One marvellous song after another...
sense the composers too may be
new stars rising
The Times (Libby Purves)
This musical space odyssey sounds
gorgeous
The Guardian
2
4. Index
The Story…………………………………………….. 04
Background Info ………………………………….. 05
Who’s Involved…………………………................ 06
The Performance………………………………….. 09
Narrator & Vocalists………………………………. 10
Orchestral Breakdown……..…………………….. 12
The Schedule………………………………………. 13
Educational Day Overview …………………….. 14
Plans & Visuals ……………................................... 15
Budget……………………………………………..... 24
Contact Details……………………………………. 26
3
5. The Story
A lost pilot crashes in the middle of the desert. When
he comes to, he is surprised to find a small, blonde boy
standing in front of him - who asks to be drawn a sheep.
The small boy, the eponymous character of the story, is also
lost - having departed his Asteroid in search of a friend. In
due course, after many tales of his journey, the Little Prince
helps the pilot to fix his plane and find his way home.
The Little Prince is a universal tale that focuses on the very
heart of humanity. It reminds us that the things which
are most important in life are not the tangible, material
trappings we are blinded by every day. But instead, are
the invisible and free gifts of love, trust and friendship.
4
6. Background & History
In autumn 2009 James and Nick were finishing off a music
project for the BBC. With a space in their calendar James
broached the delicate subject of writing a musical, based on
Antoine de Saint Exupery’s novella - The Little Prince. As one
of the World’s bestselling books (currently totalling over 140
million copies, in over 250 languages), they knew there was an
audience for the piece.
In December 2011 they premiered the show in the newly
renovated Lyric Theatre, Belfast. However, neither was satisfied
with the end result. Two workshops and four major re-writes
later they are ready to air their adaptation of the much loved
classic; an adaptation that has received the approval of the
Estate of the Author and been granted “Official” status.
Future
In Winter 2015 / 2016 James & Nick premiere a new theatrical
performance of their revised work at Theatre Calgary, Canada.
They are also delighted to be able to offer the newly
orchestrated concert version of their work to the Abu Dhabi
Festival.
5
7. Who’s Involved
Nicholas has been making music most
of his adult life from releasing his own
records to scoring for film and
television and, in more recent years,
theatre. His credits include: as solo
artist under the name of Archangel
which have been played on BBC
Radio 1, 2 & 6 Music with videos on
MTV, Channel 4, E4 and NME TV.
James is a writer, composer and director for theatre and television. After
leaving Edinburgh University, he embarked on Theatre Direction at the
Central School of Speech and Drama, before directing theatre and comedy
in and around London. From 2003-2010 he worked as director and writer for the
BBC. He is a signed recording artist and has composed a wide variety of music
for theatre and television; including the BBC and other international television
networks.
Working in close collaboration over the past six years, James and Nicholas have
composed for television and theatre. Recent work includes: a completed new
musical, set in Ireland during the Second World War, producing the recording of a
US Musical The Concrete Jungle by Bobby Cronin and arranging and producing
charity album The Speyside Sessions - which achieved the No.1 spot on iTunes
World Music chart in six different countries (including the US and UK).
Nick Lloyd Webber & James D. Reid
6
8. The smoky, futuristic world of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner was brought viscerally
to life... a stunning display of musical performance by the Heritage Orchestra...
Blade Runner has been done on stage before, but I don’t think any of those
interpretations would stand up to what took place at Meltdown last night; it was
simply extraordinary
The Heritage Orchestra has developed
an enviable reputation for rocking out
arenas, messing with other people’s
music and toying with orchestral
traditions. Since 2004 this renegade
ensemble has written its own music,
veered wildly between genres, and
collaborated with a diverse and high
profile array of artists.
Celebrating their tenth anniversary, the ensemble has recently collaborated
with Giorgio Moroder at Sydney Opera House and Goldie, for James Lavelle’s
Meltdown at the Southbank Centre.
The orchestra performed the first ever live orchestral reinterpretation of Vangelis’
soundtrack to Blade Runner. What was once an electronic score, created entirely
on synthesisers by Vangelis, was orchestrated and brought to life for Massive
Attack’s Meltdown Festival at the Royal Festival Hall with guest vocalists Guy
Garvey, Vashti Bunyan, and Omar Ebrahim.
Who’s Involved
The Heritage Orchestra
Music from the Movies
7
9. Who’s Involved
Simon is a conductor, composer, orchestrator and music supervisor whose skills
have won him international acclaim.
Just some of his credits include:
Theatre: As music supervisor, Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), Love Never
Dies (Adelphi), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Adelphi), The
Sound Of Music (Palladium), Evita (Adelphi), The Woman In White (London and
Broadway), Tell Me On a Sunday, (London and UK tour), The Beautiful Game
(London), Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway, UK and European tours).
Film: As music supervisor and conductor, The Phantom Of The Opera (nominated
for three Academy Awards including Best Song, for which he composed the
orchestration), Bjork’s Vespertine Live at The Royal Opera House. Jesus Christ
Superstar (International Emmy Award 2001) and Cats.
Most recently Simon conducted the forthcoming Broadway 4D, a 3D film-
enhanced show, incorporating in-theatre special effects, such as scents and
climatic changes, to be shown at the Times Square Theatre, NY., starring Hugh
Jackman, Glenn Close, Christina Aguilera, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Hudson
and Neil Patrick Harris.
Simon Lee
8
10. The Performance
An orchestral concert performance of the Little Prince with vocalists, narration
and immersive visuals.
2 x 45 minute sections of musical content with a 20 minute interval
The Production
• Either large-scale 70 piece symphony orchestra performance, or small-scale 40
piece chamber orchestra performance
• 5 x principal vocalists and 8 x chorus
• Narrator / voiceover artist
• VJ and animated visuals
9
11. Narrator - Suggestions
Hugh Jackman
Les Misérables
The Boy From Oz
X-Men
Patrick Stewart
Peter & the Wolf
The Four Seasons
Hamlet
X-Men
Sir Ian McKellen
Lord of the Rings
King Lear
Vincent Cassel
Ocean’s Twelve
Mesrine
Beauty & the Beast
*Appearance subject to separate negotiation & availability. Budget based on
professional un-named narrator & vocalists.
10
12. Vocalists - Suggestions
Hugh Jackman
Les Misérables
The Boy From Oz
X-Men
*Appearance subject to separate negotiation & availability. Budget based
on professional un-named narrator & vocalists.
The Pilot
Ramin Karimloo
Phantom of the Opera
Les Misérables
Miss Saigon
Matthew Morrison
Glee
Hairspray
The Light in the Piazza
The Snake
Lara Pulver
Miss Saigon
High Society
Chicago
11
13. Orchestral Breakdown
Symphony Orchestra Performance (70 piece)
40 x strings
3 x flute
1 x oboe
1 x cor anglais
3 x clarinet
2 x bassoon
4 x horn
3 x trumpet
3 x trombone
1 x tuba
1 x harp
1 x piano / celeste
1 x synthesiser
2 x guitar
1 x bass guitar
2 - 3 x percussion
Chamber Orchestra Performance (40 piece)
10 x strings
3 x flute
1 x oboe
1 x cor anglais
3 x clarinet
2 x bassoon
4 x horn
3 x trumpet
3 x trombone
1 x tuba
1 x harp
1 x piano / celeste
1 x synthesiser
2 x guitar
1 x bass guitar
2 - 3 x percussion
*The proposal has been costed for both 70 x piece and 40 x piece performances
12
14. Schedule
Day 1 Arrival and Rig
Day 2 Rehearsals
Day 3 Matinee and Evening Performance
Day 4 Educational Day
Day 5 Matinee and Evening Performance
Day 6 De-rig and Departure
13
15. Educational Day Overview
The Little Prince lends itself to exploration as both a literary piece and a
musical composition.
This orchestral concert version would also allow the development
of content for an Educational Day to include the areas of technical
production and understanding the orchestra.
These themes could be developed across all age and interest groups
and could be delivered in a huge variety of interactive, impactful and
engaging ways.
A full investigation and proposal for this requirement could be developed
against your ideas and desired outcomes – once these were clear.
Sessions could include:
• Workshops on technical production and getting to use equipment
• Script writing and composition with the creators
• A masterclass in conducting
• The experiences of musicians and being in an Orchestra
• A live rehearsal experience
• Pulling together the creative vision and how that translates into the
production
14
18. Option 2
Staging
Extended forestage with tiered orchestra seating
Screens
‘Wrap-around’ LED backdrop
2 x LED side wings for live camera relay, ‘pip’ (picture in picture
performance) shots
17
19. Option 3
Staging
Extended forestage with tiered orchestra seating
Screens
‘Wrap-around’ LED backdrop
2 x LED side wings for live camera relay, ‘pip’ (picture in picture
performance) shots
LED cross arch for immersive imagery and titles
18
26. Budget Overview
The budget to stage the orchestral concert performance of the Little
Prince is dependent on orchestral scale and venue.
This proposal has been fully costed for staging at the Abu Dhabi Music
Festival 2016 for both a 70-piece and a 40-piece orchestral set up and is
specific to the Emirates Palace Theatre.
Indicative budgets are available on request. For further financial
information, please get in touch with the contacts provided at the end of
the proposal.
25
27. For further information, please contact:
Phillipa Lowe
+44 (0)7887 758 329
phillipa@chimera-productions.org.uk
or
Will Dutta
+44 (0)7944 793 892
will@chimera-productions.org.uk
or, for further technical information, please contact:
Jim Pollard
+44 (0)7768 791 260
jim@whitelabelcollective.co.uk
26
28. The Little Prince, The Musical
Song after song, and each song is a winner
Belfast Telegraph
Much to enjoy in its lush song cycles
The Telegraph
To hear such a complex and cinematic melding of
electronics and orchestral instruments delivered so
brilliantly live is a rare treat
The Guardian
The Music of Morodor
Performed by the Heritage Orchestra
(Sydney Opera House / Vivid LIVE)
27
