Shakespeare 4 Kidz - TO BE A MAN to encore in London

A ballad which was axed from Shakespeare 4 Kidz� musical Hamlet is now enjoying a kiss-of-life revival.

The number had to be cut because it made the show too long for its young target audience so To Be a Man ended up on the proverbial cutting room floor.

But luckily that wasn�t the final resting place for the song. Writers Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett entered it for the Stephen Sondheim/Stiles & Drewe song competition (to recognise the best student performer and the best song in a new British musical) which took place recently at London�s Playhouse where it was sung by RADA student Michael Peavoy.

Judges and audience alike loved it: and the song was announced as runner-up.

Now the song is going on to even greater things and will feature during a charity event called Snappy Title on September 20 to launch a new website (New Musicals Network).

The evening is to raise money for Mercury Musical Developments and the Actors� Benevolent Fund and will include a number of songs from new musicals performed by cast members from West End shows.
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Organiser Peter Auker saw Michael Peavoy perform To Be a Man at the Sondheim Society competition, and was greatly impressed.

He invited Michael to sing the song again at Snappy Title and Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett were delighted to give consent for To Be a Man to be part of the event.

JC said: �When Michael sang To Be a Man at the Playhouse he absolutely brought the house down. We can�t wait to hear him perform it again � and for such a brilliant cause. Of course we will be there to cheer him on.�

What they say about us:
"I am a 5/6 teacher from a small, village primary school. ... I was at first a little worried about whether the children would follow the story. We had talked about it in the morning and seen the animated video, but I could see some puzzled faces over the plot complications. However, your version was just the perfect blend - enough actual Shakespearian language to get the flavour of the play, great knockabout scenes and wonderful songs that had us bouncing in our seats."

What they say about us:

"I am a 5/6 teacher from a small, village primary school. ... I was at first a little worried about whether the children would follow the story. We had talked about it in the morning and seen the animated video, but I could see some puzzled faces over the plot complications. However, your version was just the perfect blend - enough actual Shakespearian language to get the flavour of the play, great knockabout scenes and wonderful songs that had us bouncing in our seats."