''Half a Sixpence'' (also ''Kipps - The New Half A Sixpence Musical'') is a

stage musical Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

based on the 1905 novel ''

Kipps ''Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul'' is a novel by H. G. Wells, first published in 1905. It was reportedly Wells's own favourite among his works, and it has been adapted for stage, cinema and television productions, including the musical ''H ...

'' by

H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells"Wells, H. G."
Revised 18 May 2015. ''

original 1963 musical, with music by George Stiles and

Anthony Drewe Anthony Drewe is a British lyricist and book writer for Broadway and West End musicals. He is best known for his collaborations with George Stiles. Education He was educated at Maidstone Grammar School between 1974–1980. He read Zoology at ...

, and lyrics by

and Heneker, featuring several of the original songs by Heneker, and

book A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physical arr ...

Julian Fellowes Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, (born 17 August 1949) is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, and a Conservative peer of the House of Lords. He is primarily known as the author of s ...

Background

The original musical of ''

Half a Sixpence ''Half a Sixpence'' is a 1963 musical comedy based on the 1905 novel ''Kipps'' by H. G. Wells, with music and lyrics by David Heneker and a book by Beverley Cross. It was written as a vehicle for British pop star Tommy Steele. Background The ...

'', based on the novel ''

'' by

H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells"Wells, H. G."
Revised 18 May 2015. ''

David Heneker David William Heneker (31 March 1906 – 30 January 2001) was a writer and composer of British popular music and musicals, best known for creating the music and lyrics for ''Half a Sixpence''. Life and career Heneker was born in Southsea, Engl ...

and book by

Beverley Cross Alan Beverley Cross (13 April 1931 – 20 March 1998) was an English playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. Early life Born in London into a theatrical family, and educated at the Nautical College Pangbourne, Cross started off by writ ...

. The musical was written as a star vehicle for British pop star

Tommy Steele Sir Thomas Hicks (born 17 December 1936), known professionally as Tommy Steele, is an English entertainer, regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star. After being discovered at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, London, Steele reco ...

who performed the role of Kipps originally in London in 1963, Broadway in 1965 and in the 1967 film adaptation. It was evident that the show relied on Steele as the star vehicle as he featured in twelve of the musical's fifteen songs. Following the success with ''Mary Poppins'', producer

Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...

reunited the same team of George Stiles and

to adapt Heneker's original songs and create new material for the production, with

writing an entirely new book. The creative team also reunites Stiles and Drewe with Fellowes after ''

Mary Poppins It may refer to: * ''Mary Poppins'' (book series), the original 1934–1988 children's fantasy novels that introduced the character. * Mary Poppins (character), the nanny with magical powers. * ''Mary Poppins'' (film), a 1964 Disney film sta ...

'' and the new musical adaptation of ''The Wind in the Willows'' (which also reunites director Rachel Kavanaugh, who also directed Stiles and Drewe's '' Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure'').

Production history

Chichester and West End production (2016-17)

The musical premiered at

Chichester Festival Theatre Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya John Hidalgo Moya (5 May 1920 – 3 August 1994), ...

from 14 July to 2 September 2016 as a co-production with

. It was originally announced that

Bryan Dick Bryan Dick (born 1 February 1978Birthdayday (from Twitter)) is an English TV, stage and film actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Ernie Wise in the BBC's BAFTA-winning biopic of Morecambe and Wise, ''Eric and Ernie''. Career Aged 11, ...

would star as Kipps, however he later withdrew to appear in the West End production of ''Hobson's Choice''. It was later announced that newcomer

Charlie Stemp Charlie Stemp (born 30 November 1993) is an English actor. Stemp came to prominence for his leading role as Arthur Kipps in the West End musical ''Half a Sixpence'', which earned him a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a M ...

would take over as Arthur Kipps alongside Devon-Elise Johnson as Ann Pornick,

Ian Bartholomew Ian Bartholomew (born 23 August 1954) is a British actor and musician from Portsmouth, England who has worked widely in both theatre and television. In March 2018, Bartholomew joined the cast of ITV soap opera, ''Coronation Street'', as Geoff ...

as Chitterlow, Emma Williams as Helen Walsingham and Vivien Parry as Mrs Walsingham. The production is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, designed by Paul Brown, choreographed by Andrew Wright, orchestrations by

William David Brohn William David "Bill" Brohn (March 30, 1933 – May 11, 2017) was an American arranger and orchestrator, best known for his scores of musicals such as ''Miss Saigon'', ''Ragtime'' and ''Wicked''. He won the Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for ' ...

, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter and video design by Luke Halls. Following rave reviews in Chichester, the production transferred to the West End in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

at the

Noël Coward Theatre The Noël Coward Theatre, formerly known as the Albery Theatre, is a West End theatre in St. Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster, London. It opened on 12 March 1903 as the New Theatre and was built by Sir Charles Wyndham behind Wyndham's ...

with previews beginning 29 October and press night on 17 November 2016. It featured the original Chichester cast and ran for ten months in the West End following three extensions to its limited run. Combined with the Chichester run, the production played around 400 performances. Amateur productions The Amateur World Premier was performed by Manchester Musical Youth, at Zion Arts in Hulme, Manchester, in 2018 The cast included Harry Warburton as Arthur Kipps, Beth Kevern as Ann Pornick, Emma Wilcox as Helen Walsingham, and Mia Inglott as Flo. Warburton won a NODA award for his performance as Kipps

Characters and cast

Musical numbers

; Act I * "Half a Sixpence" - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "Look Alive" - Company * "Money to Burn" - Arthur Kipps, Mr Shalford, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Pierce and Flo * "Believe in Yourself" - Arthur Kipps and Helen Walsingham * "She's Too Far Above Me" - Arthur Kipps * "Money to Burn" (Reprise) - Arthur Kipps and Chitterlow * "A Proper Gentleman" - Arthur Kipps, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Pearce and Flo * "Half a Sixpence" (Reprise) - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "Long Ago" - Ann Pornick * "The Joy of the Theatre" - Chitterlow and Company * "Just a Few Little Things" - Helen Walsingham and Arthur Kipps * "A Little Touch of Happiness" - Ann Pornick and Flo * "If The Rain's Got to Fall" - Mrs Walsingham, Arthur Kipps, Foster, Helen Walsingham, Lady Punnet and Company ; Act II * "The One That's Run Away" - Chitterlow & Arthur Kipps * "Pick Out a Simple Tune" - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "You Never Get Anything Right / I Know Who I Am" - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "We'll Build a Palace / I Only Want a Little House" - Arthur Kipps, Helen Walsingham, Mrs Walsingham, James Walsingham * "In the Middle There's Me" - Arthur Kipps, Buggins, Sid Pornick and Pierce * "Long Ago" (Reprise) - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "Flash Bang Wallop" - Arthur Kipps, Ann Pornick, Mr. Shalford, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Flo, Photographer and Company * "Flash Bang Wallop" (Reprise)- Chitterlow, Arthur Kipps, Ann Pornick, Mr. Shalford, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Flo, Photographer and Company * "Finale" - Company

Cast Recording

On Friday 18 November 2016, the 2016 London Cast Recording was released by First Night Records on CD and iTunes digital download. It features 23 tracks and was recorded live during the final three performances in the Chichester run.

Home media

A filmed recording of the 2016 West End production will be broadcast on

Sky Arts Sky Arts (originally launched as Artsworld) is a British free-to-air television channel offering 24 hours a day of programmes dedicated to highbrow arts, including theatrical performances, movies, documentaries and music (such as opera perfor ...

on Wednesday 29 December 2021 under the title of ''Kipps'' (the musical's new licensing name).

Licensing

The musical is licensed through

Music Theatre International Music Theatre International (MTI) is a theatrical licensing agency based in New York City. Description MTI was founded in 1952 by American composer and lyricist Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker. Along with the licensing rights to Lo ...

to professional and amateur productions under the title ''Kipps - The New Half a Sixpence Musical.''

Awards and nominations

London Production

References

External links

{{Julian Fellowes Musicals based on novels 2016 musicals West End musicals British musicals Musicals by Julian Fellowes Adaptations of works by H. G. Wells