From the Sunday Telegraph…
The former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney is planning to make a stage show inspired by his working-class childhood in Liverpool.
“It is based on Paul’s classical work The Liverpool -Oratorio,” explained Kate Robbins, Sir Paul’s cousin, who is working on the adaptation. “Paul will approve every note as musical director.”
Sir Paul composed The Liverpool Oratorio, his first classical work, with Carl Davis in 1991 to commemorate the city’s 150th anniversary.
The story loosely follows the path of the musician’s life, with the main character, Shanty, who was born in 1942 in Liverpool, marrying his sweetheart, Mary Dee, after the death of his father. McCartney was deeply affected by the death of his mother, Mary, in October 1956, when he was 14.
Although theatres in the West End of London are expected to compete to stage the new musical, Sir Paul may decide to open it in his home town during Liverpool’s year as the European Capital of Culture in 2008. The Liverpool Oratorio was first performed at the city’s Anglican cathedral and starred the classical singers Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Jerry Hadley, Sally Burgess and Willard White.
Despite receiving a mixed reception from music critics, the recording proved to be a commercial success and topped classical charts around the world.