In the attic of an old Victorian house, as moonlight streams through the skylight, forgotten toys awaken and continue to play.
The Soldier marches nightly to maintain order, while the King and Nurse act as parents to an adopted family. Each toy has its role: the Rag Doll sews herself together, the China Doll repaints her face, and the Cowboy and Indian play pranks. The Ballerina, who broke off the music box years ago, learns to dance again with a new wooden foot carved by the Knight, whose dragon now chases imaginary foes. Every night, they come together, waiting for a new arrival.
Downstairs, the 60’s have passed, and Bardie, Ken, and Action Sam find themselves in a Victorian melodrama, bringing moral mayhem and a shift in values. Ken charms the China Doll, while Bardie, now a city girl, seeks to modernize and disrupt, spreading the message that fame and fortune are paramount.
When a toy is injured, they reflect on life, love, and loss. Sam, arriving as a toy, is revealed to be the father of the children who once played with them. He seeks to mend past mistakes and resolve emotional conflicts.
In the clash of old and new, Sam faces his demons through the eyes of the toys, ultimately helping everyone find harmony.
In 2013 The Attic received a commendation from Mercury Musical Development at the S&S Awards presented at the St James Theatre London.
On May 16th, 2014, The Attic had its World Premiere in Utrecht. The production featured a cast of 27 and an orchestra of 8, brought to life by the semi-professional group Starlight Boulevard, under the guidance of a professional Dutch director, musical director, and choreographer. The show ran for a week, earning rave reviews from the national press. Each night, a 300-strong audience, including family, friends, and war veterans (due to the poignant subject matter), found the experience incredibly moving.
Prior to this, the show was realised in a workshop format at the Haymarket Theatre in October 2008, with a cast that included Ruthie Henshall, Jessica Martin, and Alex Hanson. The same cast was used to record a concept album.
WORKSHOP AND ALBUM CAST: Kate Arneil, Annalene Beechey, Paul Callen, Keiron Crook, Jon-Paul Hevey, Ruthie Henshall, Nick Holder, Jessica Martin, Stephen Mathews, Lincoln Stone, Lucy Williamson, Julia Worsley
with Marcia Brown, Matthew Carrington, Shimi Goodman, Claire Hammett, Helen Mary Kelly, Annabel King, Jenny Layton, Ellie Leah, Shaun McCourt, Mark Stewart, Russell Alan White, Vicky Williamson
Promo video of the World Premiere production in Utrecht.