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George's fish and chip empire is crumbling. Can his wife pull her family out of the ruins? A sizzling story of strength, schemes, strippers and non-brewed condiment.
This page will be updated soon with content from the original premiere cast. You can pre-order the By George DVD, digital download and CD from 'Licenses and Purchases' in the SHOWS menu above.
The musical opens in a Yorkshire street. The action switches between the chip shop and the pub - with diversions to the gym and a nightclub. Along the way, characters experience heartbreak, loss and exhileration.
But how will our hero make the ultimate - and most difficult - decision?
Artwork by Mike Bryson
Selected full songs performed by the author during Coronavirus lockdown in 2020.
Handmade videos produced during the Coronavirus pandemic of seven songs from 'By George' - available on the 'Media' page (click the link above or use the 'Author' tab)
It's Your World
Princess (In a Tower)
Mr. Wonderful
My England and I
Two-Horse Race
Crazy Star
Yorkshire Born and Bred
Richard Sykes's new musical 'By George', is an affectionate farce rooted in his past, but fixed firmly in the present. Here's a brief synopsis.
‘By George’s main characters are a mother, a father and a son; Pauline, George and Sam. They live in a house above their traditional chip shop and for years it’s pulled them in different directions. George has become cynically determined to maintain the status quo, Sam has grown up without anyone noticing and Pauline, whilst trying to please everyone, has failed to square life’s circle.
Marge has long been notorious in the neighbourhood; searching for husband number six, she sees George as a solid prospect, and his wife as a minor inconvenience. Ever-mischievous, she arranges for a special appearance at a hen party to stir up more than just the interest of the bride-to-be.
Fortunately, George and Pauline have close friends Harry and Lil to guide them and a community of customers willing to accept the eccentricities of a traditional chippy for the sake of a decent fish supper.
‘By George’ follows Pauline’s struggle to keep her family together, reconnect with her son, contemplate the advances of an admirer and keep Marge’s destructive attention in check. It’s harder to juggle than cod and chips twice when the fat leaks through the paper.
Greasy’s the word…
Download the character notes, proposed stage plan, outline and first scene.
‘Click on the button to open the script preview, you can also download it on a Mac by two-finger clicking (or ctrl+click) or on a PC by left-clicking the button.
The character definitions and possible cast size notes, followed by staging suggestions are the first pages of the script and may help in choosing to stage 'By George' for yourself.
Please take note of the copyright and licensing notes here.
Download the a sample page from 'My England and I'.
‘Click on the button to open the score sample, you can also download it on a Mac by two-finger clicking (or ctrl+click) or on a PC by left-clicking the button.
The orchestration used is for percussion, bass, guitars, trombone, trumpet, sax/flute, synth and piano.
Please take note of the copyright and licensing notes here.
Can Guy Travis, stage star, finance his latest show against all the odds. Two scheming servants, a lost love and nobbled nobility are all part of the story.
Selected full songs performed by the author during Coronavirus lockdown in 2020.
Handmade videos produced during the Coronavirus pandemic of seven songs from 'Good Grief' (Previously 'Curtains') - available on the 'Media' page (click the link above or use the 'Author' tab)
The Music Never Dies
The Same Mistake
The Morbid Mambo
Whatever Turns You On
You Wanna Be Me
As Long As You Love
Curtains
Richard Sykes's first musical 'Good Grief', races through its manic plot.
‘Good Grief' (originally ‘Curtains’), is packed with one-liners and toe-tapping tunes. It premiered in 2000 and features ‘As Long As You Live’, ‘The Music Never Dies’ and ‘Whatever Turns You On’.
Guy – a renowned American showman – and his long-suffering sister Vera arrive from America to meet with a wealthy aristocrat who is financing Guy’s new show. A chance encounter with the aristocrat’s daughter, Jane, scuppers the deal before it’s done. But Guy isn’t the only one eying up the family fortune. A scheming butler and maniacal housekeeper have hatched a plot to rob Jane of her inheritance.
Can Guy secure his new show, win the girl and defeat the help? Possibly… but only with the assistance of dead nobility. All is revealed in this rollicking, fast-paced musical comedy.
With comedy and drama in equal measure, Singular forms an impressively cohesive one-person show, and is a terrific album too
A sung-through musical linking some of Richard's finest songs. Samples will be added here soon.
The original compilation show bringing together, for the first time, familiar favourites and unheard material from Richard Sykes's catalogue of songs
Songs include: The Easy Way Out, What a Wonderful Year!, A Better Man, Moving On and many more.
The play is nearing completion and features four couples revealing secrets and solving puzzles to, ultimately, get out. Oh... and it's set in an escape room.