First-time theatre producer Tom Gribby has presented Leukaemia UK with a cheque for over £10,000 raised from the special charity performance of Boublil and Schönberg’s The Pirate Queen at the London Coliseum in February.
Handing over a cheque for £10,058, Gribby [pictured left] said: “I am delighted at the amount raised from the Pirate Queen UK premiere concert earlier this year, to support and highlight the incredible work that Leukaemia UK do; a cause that is very close to my heart.
“My producing debut at the West End’s largest theatre was no mean feat, and would not have at all been possible without the constant support of Claude-Michel and Alain, the creative team, cast and choir, musicians, technical team, Coliseum team, all at Leukaemia UK and, of course, the audience that made the atmosphere at the one night gala simply electric.”
Chris Corbin, chairman of Leukaemia UK Trustees and a director of Corbin & King, said: “Leukaemia UK is honoured to be the beneficiary of this magnificent production of The Pirate Queen. We are grateful for this generous £10,058 donation, especially during this challenging time, which will help us continue to fund our vital research and care projects. We extend our gratitude to Tom Gribby and all those involved, this kind contribution will help us make a difference to those affected by leukaemia and other blood cancers.”
The concert featured Rachel Tucker (Come From Away, Wicked), Hannah Waddingham (Kiss Me, Kate), Steph Parry (42nd Street), Emma Norman (Acorn Antiques The Musical), Britain’s Got Talent 2011 winner Jai McDowall and Matthew Pagan from Britain’s Got Talent 2014 winning group Collabro, Earl Carpenter (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera) and Daniel Boys, whose own genre credits include Avenue Q and Falsettos.
The Pirate Queen which marked performer turned agent Gribby’s debut as producer was directed by Drew Baker with design by Ben M Rogers. The concert presentation marked the London debut of the show which debuted on Broadway in 2007.
The most recent musical from the writers of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, The Pirate Queen features music by Schönberg and lyrics by Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr and John Dempsey and is based on the novel Grania – She King of the Irish Seas by Morgan Llewelyn.
Following a Chicago try-out in 2006, The Pirate Queen arrived on Broadway in 2007 with Wicked’s original US touring Elphaba, Tony Award-winner Stephanie J. Block (The Cher Show) starring alongside Hadley Fraser (Les Misérables).
Angela Thomas
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