We were so pleased to record, mix and master this audio musical for BBC Radio Cymru, a brilliant Welsh language musical written and produced by award-winning songwriter Adam Wachter and TV writer/producer Gareth Owen, with orchestrations by Music Supervisor Brian Usifer (Broadway’s ‘Frozen’, ‘Kinky Boots’). Ysbrydnos is a modern reworking of ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ by Washington Irving. It’s a fast paced, funny, tuneful, and intense musical drama which explores contemporary themes including sexuality, addiction and relationships.
The show takes place in a sleepy Welsh village in the weeks leading up to Halloween. Framed by old Welsh folk superstitions about the traditional “Spirit Night” on October 31st, ‘Ysbrydnos’ follows Ichabod Crane – a young, gay teacher from London who moves to the Welsh countryside to escape a life of excesses and debauchery in the city. Once there, the awkward outsider befriends a local couple: vivacious teaching assistant Catrin and her rugby-loving husband Bryn . As the three bond, secrets and insecurities come to light and Ichabod finds himself torn between his new best friend and his growing love for her husband; setting the scene for a climactic night when the three gather to celebrate Halloween.
The audio musical premiered suitably on October 31st on BBC Radio Cymru, starring three of Wales’ most celebrated performers: Olivier Award winner Rebecca Trehearn (Catrin), West End star Luke McCall (Bryn) and S4C’s Aled Pedrick (Ichabod), and signifies a unique, exciting and noteworthy investment in new musical theatre writing from the national broadcaster.
