Leading independent theatre production company Metta Theatre has begun releasing the second season of its filmed musical drama CELLS, a year after the lockdown-written, developed and filmed series made its debut.
Starring Metta patron, Olivier Award-winner Clive Rowe (In The Willows, Guys and Dolls) and rising star Lem Knights (School of Rock, Billionaire Boy), CELLS has been released in episodic form daily. Written and directed by Metta’s artistic director P Burton-Morgan, with music by Ben Glasstone, CELLS was created with Rowe in mind.
Produced in partnership with three major regional venues – Royal & Derngate Northampton, the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch and the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, Metta will follow the release of the episodes by making the full film available on Monday 26 April. A cast album is also available on Spotify and other digital platforms.
Launching the second series, award-winning writer and director P Burton-Morgan said: “We’re delighted to be revisiting our digital musical CELLS and releasing Season Two with the introduction of a third character.
“With the first season having been seen by over 42,000 people across YouTube and Facebook, it’s wonderful to hopefully reach even more audiences digitally with the next instalment of this intimately moving story. Taken together both ‘seasons’ make up a full-length piece and we’re in conversation with several venues about bringing the stage version to live audiences in 2023.
“It’s wonderful to see theatres recovering, but the challenge of developing and more crucially producing new British musicals remains as acute as ever. We’re excited to continue pursing digital outlets for our work alongside traditional live performances, and we hope this alongside our cast albums and music videos for other projects will help sustain interest in our quirkier projects, as well as reaching audiences who are still unable to return to in-person performance.”
Commenting on the production earlier this year, James Dacre, artistic director at Royal & Derngate commented: “In a year in which new musicals lie at the heart of our work, we’re delighted to be supporting Poppy and Ben to launch this touching story of a powerful new relationship formed between two strangers.”
Paul Robinson, artistic director at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, added: “CELLS is an innovative and uplifting new musical that demonstrates the brilliant creativity of artists reacting to their circumstances – the SJT is delighted to be partnering with Metta Theatre, as well as Royal & Derngate in Northampton and the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch to present it. Any money raised from the two episodes that we’re hosting will be equally split between our talented associate companies – Voxed, The Faction, Box of Tricks and Arcade – so watch this space for more exciting work with them.”
Commenting on the Queen’s Theatre’s involvement in the project, artistic director Douglas Rintoul said: “Musicals are at the heart of our programme here at QTH, and so we’re thrilled to be supporting this innovative digital project from our exceptionally talented colleagues at Metta.”
The creative team for the film also includes musical director James Cleeve, director of photography Jon Dickinson with sound mixed and mastered by Simon Small and film editing by Will Reynolds. Cleve also features on keys and double bass with Curtis Volp on guitar.
With each partner hosting episodes on their websites, the film in both episode form and in its entirety will be free to all to access via YouTube with a suggested donation (£3 per episode and £10 for the whole film) which will be divided between the three regional theatres to help support their recovery.
Angela Thomas
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