Why the Whales Came
The Mack, Taunton Brewhouse and The Drum
- Book and Lyrics
- Nikki Racklin
- Music
- Bella Barlow
The Mack at Mountview & Taunton Brewhouse – 2022 production
- Director
- Simon Kane
- Movement Director / Choreographer
- Phyllida Crowley-Smith
- Set and Costume Designer
- Lu Herbert
- Musical Director
- Bella Barlow
- Lighting Designer
- Joseph Ed Thomas
- Sound Designers
- Nick Laws
- Associate Choreographer
- Ben Sell
- Fight Combat Support
- Max Kinder
Produced by British Youth Music Theatre
Photos by Leanne Dixon
The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth – 2021 production
- Director
- Simon Kane
- Movement Director / Choreographer
- Phyllida Crowley-Smith
- Set and Costume Designer
- Lu Herbert
- Musical Director
- Bella Barlow
- Lighting Designer
- Nathan Benjamin
- Sound Designers
- Thomas Evans & Nim Green
Produced by British Youth Music Theatre
Photos by Gemma Smith & Lu Herbert
”Directed by Simon Kane, Why the Whales Came is a poignant tale that highlights the importance of community, of people coming together in hard times and seeing the best in each other, no matter what. The audience, including young children and adults, was captivated by the storytelling and the music and it would be an awful shame if this was the last we see of this charming tale. […] This was a polished piece of theatre that is screaming out for a future”
”This is a fine show and the simple truth of the song ‘Glory feels hollow now you’re gone’ will stay with me for a long time. Warmest congratulations to all the creative team, not least librettist and lyricist Nikki Racklin and director Simon Kane.”
”Perennial favourite Michael Morpurgo’s Why The Whales Came lends itself beautifully to a musical piece. […] The large company portrays the rough and tumble of schooldays where transport is a boat and water is in the soul, and island life where there is daily strife for survival and bullies around the corner. […] There are unicorns, spirits, warfare, derring-do and adventure as two children break the rules and unite a fractured village in an act of great compassion”