Pinocchio: The Greatest Wonder of the Age

A rollicking, atmospheric slice of musical folklore!

Pinocchio The Greatest Wonder of the Age, Paul Boyd's 25th original stage musical, evolved from discussions at the Lyric Theatre Belfast at the end of 2019.  The Lyric's production of Paul's musical Peter Pan was at the time playing to packed houses, and the 2018 revival of Alice The Musical was still fresh in everyone’s memory.
 
The new musical was commissioned at the end of 2019 and was scheduled for production at Christmas 2020; but world events put paid to that plan, and like theatrical productions all around the world, the show was postponed.
 
Throughout 2020, alongside the producers at the Lyric Theatre, Paul continued to develop ideas for the show and came up with various plans in case, somehow, Pinocchio The Greatest Wonder of the Age could be brought to the stage.

In the meantime, Paul assembled a vocal cast of TV names, West End stars, and musical theatre performers to record a selection of songs from the show to be released as a charity album.  Pinocchio The Greatest Wonder of the Age - The Demos features songs from the show performed by West End stars Sabrina Aloueche (We Will Rock You), Jodie Jacobs (Rock of Ages), Mark Dugdale (Come From Away), and Alan Richardson (Chicago).  Also featured on the album are TV legend Su Pollard (Hi-de-Hi!), Marvel's Hawkeye and Rebel Moon star Fra Fee, and musical theatre performers Michael Mahony (Once), Allison Harding (Sister Act), Jamie Steen (The Good Old Days), and Christopher Finn (All Male Iolanthe).  Pinocchio The Greatest Wonder of the Age - The Demos is available from iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major digital platforms.

 The little wooden boy, the Greatest Wonder of the Age, finally made his appearance a year later than planned and just in time for Christmas 2021 in a critically acclaimed production that opened on 26th November.  It was named by The Guardian newspaper as "One of the 25 Best Shows To Book For Christmas".

Pinocchio The Greatest Wonder of the Age is a full stage musical production written for audiences of all ages performed by a cast of seven actors, singers, dancers, puppeteers, and musicians.

Synopsis

When evil circus-owner Swallowfire realises that she has finally discovered the location of the mythical Tree of Truth she sets up her carnival sideshow next to it. The Tree is said to grant a heart’s desire, and Swallowfire has plans to use its magic so that her circus becomes the greatest in the world.

Following a storm, Swallowfire finds a piece of the tree and asks a local carpenter to carve a new attraction from it - a wooden boy.  That night the fairy that lives in the Tree brings Pinocchio to life …  

As part of the Tree of Truth Pinocchio must stay close by, and he must always be honest; but Pinocchio knows that his heart’s desire is to escape from the circus and find his father, the carpenter that created him.  For that to happen, the fairy explains, Pinocchio must become a real boy.

Paul Boyd’s all-new musical re-imagining of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale is the magical story of a real live wooden boy on an incredible journey to find his true family.  Featuring a spectacular circus company of sensational musicians and unforgettable characters, including the amazing conjuror Mr. Fox, the world-famous acrobat Lady Cat, and prima donna opera star the Red Lobster. 

Will Pinocchio's friends Matchstick and the Talking Cricket help him escape Swallowfire’s clutches, or will his nose lead him into trouble?  

Roll up! Roll up! and attend the world’s greatest circus, where Swallowfire promises you’ll have a whale of a time, and where one little wooden boy believes that anything is possible.