BBC World Service Announces U.ME: THE COMPLETE MUSICAL
News from across the pond! BBC World Service has announced the world premiere of U.Me: The Complete Musical, following the huge success of its first installment U.Me: The Musical, which was released in 2021.
The original musical, staged for radio and podcast, was set during the global pandemic and the strange experience of life and love in lockdown. U.Me: The Musical—Part Two is about how that experience of lockdowns has affected the characters. Rose and Ryo’s story touches on the joy and vulnerability of physical connection, forgiveness, and self-care.
A Magnum Opus production for the BBC, U.Me: The Complete Musical will premiere globally on February 21, 2024 on BBC World Service, BBC Sounds, YouTube and all podcast providers.
Golden Globe nominee Stephen Fry will be returning as special guest narrator for the musical, as will the talented team behind U.Me.
The new original soundtrack will be performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, with music and lyrics by Theo Jamieson (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Here Lies Love), and book by Jamieson and Simon Pitts. The music has been produced by music producer Steve Levine, who has worked with the likes of Culture Club, The Beach Boys, The Clash and many more. The musical will also be animated by Dan Masterton at Mighty Pie Creative Studio – the stylized animation will be available to watch on the BBC World Service YouTube page.
“After the musical’s successful reception in 2021, there was so much more to explore about how we were all getting over, or at least trying to get over, this collective pandemic trauma. Friends of mine were making changes as a response: some were leaving jobs or homes, some were facing up to deep personal obstacles. And I wanted to explore how our characters were changed by the period. To what extent were they adapting or succeeding in healing and remaking themselves “post-lockdowns”? I’m immensely proud of how the project brings together some of the leading British talent in music and drama to explore the strangest shared experience of our generation.” Says co-creator, Simon Pitts.
U.Me: The Complete Musical will launch on February 21, 2024 on BBC World Service, BBC Sounds, YouTube and podcast providers.
