''Coram Boy'' is a play written by

Helen Edmundson Helen Edmundson (born 1964) is a British playwright, screenwriter and producer. She has won awards and critical acclaim both for her original writing and for her adaptations of various literary classics for the stage and screen. Early life Edmu ...

with music composed by Adrian Sutton, based on the 2000 children's novel of the same name by Jamila Gavin, an epic adventure that concerns the theme of child cruelty. The play is called a "play with music", rather than a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

Synopsis

The action takes place in the eighteenth century. The benevolent

Thomas Coram Sea captain, Captain Thomas Coram ( – 29 March 1751) was an English sea captain and philanthropist who created the London Foundling Hospital in Lamb's Conduit Fields, Bloomsbury, to look after abandoned children on the streets of London. It is ...

has recently opened a

Foundling Hospital The Foundling Hospital (formally the Hospital for the Maintenance and Education of Exposed and Deserted Young Children) was a children's home in London, England, founded in 1739 by the philanthropy, philanthropic Captain (nautical), sea captain ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

called the "Coram Hospital for Deserted Children". Unscrupulous men, known as "Coram men", take advantage of the situation by promising desperate mothers to take their unwanted children to the hospital for a fee. The story follows a range of characters, focusing on two orphans: Toby, saved from an African

slave ship Slave ships were large cargo ships specially built or converted from the 17th to the 19th century for transporting Slavery, slaves. Such ships were also known as "Guineamen" because the trade involved human trafficking to and from the Guinea ( ...

; and Aaron, the deserted son of the heir to an estate, as their lives become closely involved with this true and tragic episode of British social history.

Productions

The show was first staged at the National Theatre in London from November 2005 until February 2006. It returned to the National Theatre from November 2006 to February 2007. The play then moved to Broadway at the Imperial Theater, starting previews in April 2007, and officially opening for a month-long run in May 2007. The show was nominated for six

Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cere ...

but did not win any. Melly Still was the director and co-designer (with Ti Green) of both the London and New York productions with Paule Constable designing lighting and Chris Schutt on sound. Still also directed the December 2011 production for

Bristol Old Vic Bristol Old Vic is a British theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, Bristol. The present company was established in 1946 as an offshoot of the Old Vic in London. It is associated with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which became a fin ...

at the

Colston Hall Bristol Beacon, previously Colston Hall, is a concert hall and Grade II listed building on Colston Street, Bristol, England. It is owned by Bristol City Council. Since 2011, it has been managed by Bristol Music Trust. The hall opened as a con ...

and the production was designed by Anna Fleischle, with lighting by Bruno Poet, and sound by Schutt. Adrian Sutton composed the music for all four versions. Coram Boy is frequently produced in Britain by Universities, Drama schools and amateur groups. ;First London Cast (2005 - 2006): *Toby -

Akiya Henry Akiya Henry is a British actress. She is best known for her theatre work, winning a WhatsOnStage Award and earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. Early life and education Akiya Henry was born in London. At six months old, she was placed ...

*Aaron / Alexander Ashbrook (young) -

Anna Madeley Anna Madeley (born 8 March 1977) is an English actress. She performed for three seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has appeared in three off-West End productions. She has starred in productions on each of the main British television ...

*Alexander Ashbrook (adult) -

Bertie Carvel Robert Hugh Carvel (born 6 September 1977) is a British film and theatre actor. He has twice won a Laurence Olivier Award: for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his role as Miss Trunchbull in '' Matilda the Musical'', and for Best ...

*Mrs. Lynch - Ruth Gemmell *Molly - Chetna Pandya *Mrs. Hendry - Sharon Maharaj *Otis Gardiner -

Paul Ritter Simon Paul Adams (20 December 1966 – 5 April 2021), known professionally as Paul Ritter, was an English actor. He had roles in films including ''Son of Rambow'' (2007), ''Quantum of Solace'' (2008), ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (f ...

*Thomas Ledbury (adult) - Stuart McLoughlin *Thomas Claymore - Adam Shipway *Meshak - Jack Tarlton *Isobel Ashbrook - Kelly Williams *Edward Ashbrook - Katherine Manners *Miss Price - Inika Leigh Wright *Lord Ashbrook - William Scott Massive *

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

- Nick Tizzard *Mrs. Milcote - Eve Matheson *Alice Ashbrook - Sophie Bould *Thomas Ledbury (young) - Abby Ford *Lady Ashbrook - Rebecca Johnson *Melissa / Angel - Justine Mitchell ;Second London Cast (2006 - 2007): *Toby - Debbie Korley *Aaron / Alexander Ashbrook (young) - Katherine Manners *Alexander Ashbrook (adult) -

*Mrs. Lynch - Ruth Gemmell *Molly - Deeivya Meir *Mrs. Hendry - Sharon Maharaj *Otis Gardiner -

Tim McMullan Timothy W. V. McMullan (born 1963) is a British actor, notable for his stage, television and film work. He is best known for playing Atticus Pünd in the BBC mystery dramas ''Magpie Murders'' and ''Moonflower Murders (TV series), Moonflower Murd ...

*Thomas Ledbury (adult) - Stuart McLoughlin *Thomas Claymore - Adam Shipway *Meshak - Al Weaver *Isobel Ashbrook - Kelly Williams *Edward Ashbrook - Hannah Storey *Miss Price - Inika Leigh Wright *Lord Ashbrook - William Scott Massive *George Frideric Handel - Nick Tizzard *Mrs. Milcote -

Clare Burt Clare Burt is an English actress and singer. Her theatre work includes '' Coram Boy'' (2006), ''Cats'', '' Aspects of Love'', '' Sunday in the Park with George'', '' Closer Than Ever'', '' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'', '' Big Fish'', and '' Pal Joey ...

*Alice Ashbrook - Jenni Maitland *Thomas Ledbury (young) - Abby Ford *Lady Ashbrook - Rebecca Johnson *Melissa / Angel - Justine Mitchell ;Broadway Cast: *Toby -

Uzo Aduba Uzoamaka Nwanneka "Uzo" Aduba () (; born February 10, 1981) is an American actress. She gained wide recognition for her role as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on the Netflix original series ''Orange Is the New Black'' (2013–2019), for which she w ...

*Aaron / Alexander Ashbrook (young) - Xanthe Elbrick *Alexander Ashbrook (adult) - Wayne Wilcox *Mrs. Lynch - Jan Maxwell *Molly - Jolly Abraham *Mrs. Hendry — Jacqueline Antaramian *Otis Gardiner — Bill Camp *Thomas Ledbury (adult) - Dashiell Eaves *Thomas Claymore — Tom Riis Farrell *Meshak — Brad Fleischer *Isobel Ashbrook - Karron Graves *Edward Ashbrook — Laura Heisler *Miss Price — Angela Lin *Lord Ashbrook — David Andrew Macdonald *George Frideric Handel — Quentin Maré *Mrs. Milcote — Kathleen McNenny *Alice Ashbrook -

Cristin Milioti Cristin Milioti (born August 16, 1985) is an American actress. She is known for playing The Mother, The Mother (How I Met Your Mother), Tracy McConnell, in the CBS sitcom ''How I Met Your Mother'' from 2013 to 2014, and Sofia Falcone in the HBO ...

*Thomas Ledbury (young) - Charlotte Parry *Lady Ashbrook — Christina Rouner *Melissa / Angel — Ivy Vahanian ;Bristol - Colston Hall (Bristol Old Vic 2011): *Otis Gardiner — Tristan Sturrock *Meshak Gardiner — Fionn Gill *Alexander Ashbrook (young) - George Clark *Alexander Ashbrook (adult) - Freddie Hutchins *Melissa / Angel - Emily Head / Mabel Moll *Mrs. Lynch — Lucy Black *Lord Ashbrook - Simon Shepherd *Lady Ashbrook — Saskia Portway *Isobel Ashbrook — Grace Carter / Florence Woolley *Alice Ashbrook — Esther Lawrence / Bethan Barke / Peggy Edwards *Edward Ashbrook — Tobey Barke / Cameron Fraser *Mrs. Hendry/Mrs. Milcote — Catherine Swingler *Thomas Claymore / George Frideric Handel — Joe Hall *Thomas Ledbury (young) - Johannes Moore / Max Macmillan *Dr Smith/Thomas Ledbury — Ed Birch *Aaron — Toby Yapp / Finn Lacey *Toby — Joe Sharpe *Miss Price — Anna Houghton The production also included a local cast of Coram children and a local ensemble.

Music

In the National Theatre and Broadway versions the music is performed by a 16-member onstage choir and a seven-piece chamber orchestra. In Bristol the orchestra was expanded to 20 musicians and the choir was joined at the end of act 2 by a local chorus of 40 performers. The music includes parts or adaptations of

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

's ''Messiah'' and ''Theodora'', as well as over an hour of original music consisting of songs, period-style dance, and chamber music, as well as dramatic underscoring. When the play was performed at

Chichester Festival Theatre Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...

in the Summer of 2024, the Chichester Cathedral Choir recorded 15 minutes of music to be used within the production.

Awards and nominations

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

nominations (no wins): *Best Featured Actress in a Play ** Xanthe Elbrick **Jan Maxwell *Best Direction of a Play *Best Scenic Design of a Play *Best Costume Design of a Play *Best Lighting Design of a Play 2007 Theatre World Award - Xanthe Elbrick (winner)

Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Awards are among the most esteemed honors in New York theater, recognizing outstanding achievements across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway productions within the same categories. The awards are considered a signific ...

nominations for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: * Xanthe Elbrick *Jan Maxwell

Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town news ...

nominations (no wins): *Outstanding New Broadway Play *Outstanding Director of a Play (Lucille Lortel Award) *Outstanding Set Design (Ti Green & Melly Still) *Outstanding Lighting Design (Paule Constable) Olivier Award Nominations (no wins) Best new play (Helen Edmundson) Best performance in a supporting role (Paul Ritter) Best Director (Melly Still) Best Sound (Christopher Shutt)

References

External links

''Coram Boy'' on BroadwayInternet Broadway Database listingInformation about the rehearsal process
{{Messiah (Handel) Plays by Helen Edmundson Broadway plays Plays set in the 18th century Foundling Hospital Plays and musicals about disability Fictional characters with disabilities