Stand Tall A Rock Musical

Stand Tall: A Rock Musical first appeared on the theatre scene last year – going under the title of David V Goliath back then, the musical was staged in Oxfordshire by a cast of young stage school performers and earned the 2010 Princess Diana Award for the strong anti-bullying message it delivered, presented by author Philip Pullman and garnering a message of support from PM David Cameron.

Stand Tall is a Shrill Productions musical, from the pen of brother writing duo, Sandy and Aldie Chalmers, with book and lyrics by company co-founder, Lee Wyatt-Buchan. Written expressly for schools to help tackle bullying, Stand Tall endeavours to raise awareness and understanding in children affected by the issue, as well as showing that bullying is not something which should be tolerated.

Based upon the biblical story of David and Goliath, Stand Tall is a modern re-telling of the little guy who stands up to his mighty aggressor and surmounts a seemingly impossible situation.

The story centres around shepherd boy David, who is chosen to become the next king but would rather be a rock star! As David struggles with his prophecy, he finds himself under threat from the tyrannical King Saul and local bully Goliath, who is less than thrilled about having David as his ruler – with a love interest in the form of the King’s daughter and an epic guitar battle finale; David must overcome all the obstacles, face his fears and Stand Tall.

The show is embarking on tour this year, with an expected off-West End run to follow. On board to direct the show is Simon Greiff, who will also be producing the official cast album through record company, SimG Records – a four-track demo EP has already been recorded, featuring the vocal talents of West End stars: Ashleigh Gray (Wicked); Ross Hunter (WWRY); Owain Williams (Les Miserables) and Nicola Hughes (Chicago), with arrangements by Musical Supervisor Pete White.

Stand Tall aims to educate and inspire through musical entertainment and all four songs on the EP certainly do that. The strong, succinct lyrics are accessible to everyone and are designed to connect with their listeners in a very clear and meaningful manner – each song has a relevant and important message to deliver.

The duet with Ross Hunter and Nicola Hughes, Time To Talk, encourages changing a bad situation by talking about the thoughts and feelings which being bullied can create. Hunter sings about the pain and fear David feels, in a way that children can relate back to their own experiences. Hunter and Hughes both possess solidly succulent voices that work well together in this number. Ashleigh Gray’s So Indecisive is a poppy love song about David and Mia (King’s daughter), which notes the differences that lie between them, with Gray’s sweet-sounding, wholesome tone perfectly capturing the youthful sense of the ingenuous princess. Both – the latter in particular – are upbeat tunes with catchy rhythms; which one would expect of a Rock Musical.

Nicola Hughes really displays her remarkable vocals in the soulful ballad, Stronger Than This; a stirring song in which she counsels David to keep strong in the face of adversity. Anyone who has been a victim of bullying and felt as though they were alone and couldn’t cope will be inspired to not give up, to not allow their fear to overcome them – to ‘break the cycle’ as one line asserts.

The one with perhaps the most uniquely significant message however, would be Goliath’s Song. Owain Williams performs this Hip-Hop style rap from the perspective of Goliath. It offers an insight that shows the bully as a victim too; someone who doesn’t like himself and cannot deal with his feelings of hurt and pain so turns them into fuel for his rage and channels it through the form of bullying. Williams impressively exhibits that desperation and misery here. Goliath’s Song will help children to understand why someone may become a bully; that it’s not always as simple as ‘they’re a bad person’, but usually because they are unhappy themselves.

Stand Tall is a fun and entertaining musical with a serious undertone that speaks to both the bullied and the bully. All four songs here address the very relevant issue of bullying in different ways, confronting it head-on in an effort to break down the barriers and create an awareness of how each side is affected.

It is a welcome occurrence to have a show with such a profoundly strong and pertinent message which is easily accessible to everyone, adults and children alike, and the demo EP provides a marvellous introduction to this innovative musical. White’s arrangements are a joy, imbuing the score with a rich and appreciative sound: after a taste of the music and delightful cast, you will be fervently awaiting the full thirteen-track recording, as well as news of the staged production – one feels that it cannot come soon enough!

 

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