City Of Dreams

Opening at Esher Theatre this month is a brand new musical written by Radio 1 DJ and former Top Of The Pops presenter, Mike Read.

City of Dreams features the music of Eric Coates, who wrote some of the UK’s best-known light orchestral tunes, including the theme tune of Desert Island Discs and The Dam Busters March.

“Back in the 1930 and 40s Coates was urged to turn his tunes into stage musicals, but never did. When I listened to his music, I found myself singling along with words and within a few weeks I’d written a musical,’ says Read, who has written numerous books, poetry and several previous stage musicals including Ricky Nelson…Teenage Idol and Great Expectations.

Loosely based on Midsummer Night’s Dream, the show is set in Piccadilly Circus in 1932 and follows the interwoven tales of those who pass through: club owners, flower sellers, star-crossed lovers. Lead roles are played by Leee John of pop group Imagination and West End regular, Peter Straker.

“Esher Theatre is such a lovely local theatre,” says Read who grew up in Walton-on-Thames. “It sounds rather grand to call it world premiere, but technically it is – and the feedback so far is so positive we’re hoping it’ll be picked up for touring.”

April 25-29, tickets from £20, eshertheatre-tickets.ticketsolve.com