Nica Burns launches uplifiting new musical @sohoplace starring actor who uses a wheelchair
The Little Big Things tells the inspiring story of tetraplegic Henry Fraser
Louisa Walters is Features Editor at the Jewish News and specialises in food and travel writing
Since she opened her dream-come-true theatre @sohoplace, Nica Burns has produced a string of outstanding shows: Marvellous, As You Like It, Medea and Brokeback Mountain. And now she’s excited to launch the first musical. “The Little Big Things, our first musical and a world premiere, is our fifth and final production to open in our first year @sohoplace. A big thank you to brilliant musicals producer Michael Harrison for bringing us this exciting project, authored by a new British musical theatre writing team and with an actor who is a wheelchair user at its heart. Soho place is above all about possibilities.”
The Little Big Things is the story of Henry Fraser, avid sportsman and academy player with a premiership rugby club. His life changed forever in 2009 when he had a diving accident which left him a tetraplegic. He had to navigate a whole new way of living but his defiance and determination led to him wheeling himself out of hospital a whole year earlier than predicted. Today he is a successful artist, inspirational speaker and author.
Henry’s remarkable story which he told in his best-selling autobiography.inspired composer Nick Butcher to turn it in to an uplifting, colourful musical. @sohoplace is the first West End theatre to open in 50 years and has unrivalled accessibility, making it the perfect venue for a show that is about and stars a wheelchair user.
Henry says: “There have been many things that have happened since my accident that I never thought about in life, never planned and really surprised me, in a great way. This musical is one of those moments. The guys have been great to work with and the moment they played me a couple of songs I was sold. I still can’t believe it’s actually happening and it makes me incredibly excited and nervous.”
Listen to the title track here.
The Big Little Things is @sohoplace 2 September – 14 November. Book at sohoplace.org
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