Stephen Keeling
Composer
@keeling_stephen
Timeline of My
Musicals
1 CREATION STORY First performed at the National Garden Festival in September 1986 and then at the Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford 1987. Libretto by Anthea Deakin.
2 THE DEVIL AND MR STONE Performed at the Donmar Warehouse, London July 1989. Libretto by Dennis Pickford.
3 MADDIE First workshopped on the Sondheim Masterclass 1990 leading to a half-hour presentation. Full workshop at the Royal National Theatre Studio, May 1991. First production at the Salisbury Playhouse in September 1996. Transferred to the Lyric Theatre opening in London on September 29th 1997. The first of six musicals with book and lyics by regular writing partner Shaun McKenna (co-book Steven Dexter). The show was revived in the United States in 2023 and plays a season Off Brodway Spring 2025.
4 MY FATHER'S SON (Made in Sheffield) First performance at Sheffield City Hall August 1993. Subsequently performed twice at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler's Wells in February 1994 and later that year at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Last performed at the Crucible Theatre in 1999. Book and lyrics by the late award-winning writer Stephen Clark.
5 AMAZING MR BLUNDEN Industry showcase performance 1995. Book and lyrics by Ed Hardy.
6 THE LAST WAVE Performed at the Rotherham Arts Centre, Summer 1998. Written for the Made in Sheffield Theatre Company. Book and lyrics by Peter Spafford.
7 LA CAVA First performed at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley in Spring 2000 before transferring to the Victoria Palace Theatre in London where it opened on 8 June 2000. Closed 22 July 2000 at the Victoria Palace Theatre and then transferred 21 August 2000 to the Piccadilly Theatre. Second musical written with Shaun McKenna.
8 HEIDI First performed at an open air arena, Lake Walenstadt in Switzerland 2005. The show returned to the same venue in 2006 and a new production opened in Germany at the Anhaltisches Theater, Dessau where it played in repertoire from December 2006 - 2007. The show was also performed in Zurich in 2015. Based on Johanna Spyri's first Heidi novel. Book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna - our third show. Followed by a sequel in 2007. Licensed by Concord Theatricals UK and Berlin.
9 THE RETURN OF PETER PAN Commissioned by a German publishing house. First workshopped in Berlin 2006. Fourth musical written with Shaun McKenna. The show premiered at the Theater Regensburg, Germany on November 4th 2023 playing in repertoire till June 2024. Licensed by Concord Theatricals Berlin.
10 THE WAY HOME (Heidi Part 2) First performed at an open air arena, Lake Walenstadt in Switzerland 2007/2008. Based on Johanna Spyri's second Heidi novel. Nominated for the Prix Walo Award (the 'Swiss Oscar'). Fifth show with Shaun McKenna.
11 THE ONE TRUE THING 2009 A stand-alone, original prequel to Heidi concentrating on the young Johanna and the village and characters she creates in her mind which will become the setting for 'Heidi'. We learn about the Grandfather's back story and how he came to be a recluse on the mountain. It is a story about love in all its forms, about being young and trying to carve out a place in the world. This show was commissioned but never performed. Sixth show with Shaun McKenna.
12 SEA CHANGE Completed in 2016. A musical for five actors with book and lyrics by award-winning author Michelle Magorian.
13 NIGHT SHOOT Completed in 2017. A musical set around the filming of Les Enfants du Paradis in occupied France with book and lyrics by award-winning author Jonathan Miles. This musical has not been performed yet.
Between the Kisses 2002 Demo recordings on my SoundCloud Channel.
Anastasia: a Musical Riddle Demo of six songs recorded in 2009 and available to hear on my
SoundCloud channel. Since then no more work has been done on it.
Dietrich and the Red Spy 2012 Demo recordings on my SoundCloud Channel. Awaiting rewrite.
Comrade Pav 2017 Two songs written and a synopsis. Since then no more work has been done on it.
Lucky Night 2018 Book finished and several songs written. Score incomplete.
The Challenge 1992 Multi-collaborative musical written to launch the Mercury Workshop.
The Ten Commandments 1993 The second multi-collaborative musical by the Mercury Workshop.
Tom, Dick or Harry 2008 One woman play with 8 songs by Stephen Clark which Stephen set to music.
Were You Really There? 2018 A song cycle with lyrics by Ian Billings commissioned by the Arts Council.
The Three Little Pigs Pop Cantata for children.