Brand New Everest Musical Mallory and the Mountain Set to Dazzle at Storyhouse This Autumn
This October, Storyhouse will play host to an electrifying new musical, Mallory and the Mountain, a captivating retelling of the legendary Cheshire-born mountaineer George Mallory’s daring bid to become the first man to conquer Everest. The one-night-only concert event, on Saturday, 19 October, promises an unforgettable evening of soaring music and high drama, featuring some of the brightest stars in musical theatre.
Composed by Manchester’s Ollie Mills, Mallory and the Mountain blends a stirring folk-rock score with expansive cinematic soundscapes. A towering digital screen projects breathtaking images of the Himalayas, immersing the audience in the perilous climb while unravelling one of mountaineering’s most enduring mysteries.
Leading the stellar cast is Chris Jared (Amelie; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) as George Mallory, alongside an all-star lineup including Rebecca Gilliland as Ruth Mallory, (Wicked; Dirty Dancing) and Benjamin Karran (Les Misérables; Heathers) as Mallory’s ill-fated climbing partner Sandy Irvine.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to bring the show to Storyhouse,” Mills shared. “Audiences can expect high emotions, exhilarating moments, and some of the most sensational voices in musical theatre today. It’s a story of ambition and the relentless pursuit of a dream, but also of friendship, with a love story at its core. I hope audiences leave feeling both uplifted and inspired—it’s truly a treat for all the senses!”
The concert will delve into the human drama of Mallory’s fateful 1924 expedition, where, in the final push to reach Everest’s summit, he and Irvine vanished into the clouds. The question of whether they reached the top remains a mystery to this day.
The cast also includes Joseph Richardson (Tina – The Turner Musical), Eliza Waters (Heathers), and Gavin James (Les Misérables: The Staged Concert), playing multiple roles.
Mallory and the Mountain has already generated buzz after successful previews at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre and the Lowry Rewrites Festival, following the path of recent breakout hits Operation Mincemeat and Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch.
This concert event offers musical theatre fans a rare opportunity to actively participate in the ‘research and development’ of an exciting new musical. Be part of its creation, witness its evolution, and join the journey as this brand-new production takes shape
It is supported by both Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network, the show was featured in the 2023 BEAM New Musical Theatre Festival at Oxford Playhouse and on The Other Palace’s “Making A Musical” podcast.
Produced by the North-West-based Imaginality Productions, this new work is part of the company’s mission to create innovative musicals rooted in Northern stories and talent. Inspired by Mallory’s adventurous spirit, the show is expected to captivate audiences with its blend of emotional depth, historical intrigue, and the haunting allure of Everest.
Book tickets for Mallory and the Mountain: A New Musical in Concert
Mallory and the Mountain: A New Musical in Concert
Saturday 19 October 2024
Tickets £16.65 (Storyhouse Members); £18.50 (non-Members); £10 (Young Storyhouse Card)
ENDS
For more information, contact:
Nancy Davies
Marketing and PR Manager
Storyhouse
nancy@storyhouse.com
About Storyhouse
Storyhouse is one of the UK’s foremost cultural centres incorporating a library, theatres and a cinema. It is one of the country’s most successful arts buildings, with more than one million customer visits each year.
The pioneering new library within Storyhouse, where members of the community work alongside city librarians, boasts the longest opening hours of any UK public library and is open every day until 11pm. It runs over 2,000 sessions a year for marginalised communities
The company also runs a highly successful theatre company and the country’s most successful regional open-air theatre, in the city’s Grosvenor Park and Moonlight Flicks open air cinema.
Storyhouse currently holds the official title as the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre and was the overall national winner in the 2018 Guardian Public Service Awards
Website: www.storyhouse.com To subscribe, visit https://www.storyhouse.com/subscribe Twitter: @storyhouselive Facebook: www.facebook.com/storyhouselive Address: Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR To become a member: https://www.storyhouse.com/storyhousecard