The New Musical Theatre Festival was called off until backers, including Cameron Mackintosh, came to its rescue. But despite these troubles, the event attracted unprecedented numbers to its series of workshops and shows, reports Jenny Smith.

As previously reported in The Stage, the festival lost it's financial backing and had to cancel but was saved at the eleventh hour by contributions by Cameron Mackintosh and The Musician's Benevolent Fund...

...The Royal Academy of Music was the setting for the second day of the festival, consisting of four workshop performances. Chris Orton's moving work, This Time Next Week was presented by WithoutAPaddle Theatre Company directed by Joanna Morton and performed by Mark Christopher, Gabriel Vick and Claire Falconer...

...A single grand piano was used for most of the festival, leaving the musical potential of each work to the imagination. Chris Orton went more than one step further in his second offering of the day with My Land's Shore , which included a full orchestra and ensemble. This concert performance and final show of the festival was also presented by WithoutAPaddle, producing a colourful arrangement with inspiring libretto, Chris Orton, whose musical future is just beginning.

                                                                                                  - Jenny Smith, The Stage