★★★★★
“Song after song, and each song is a winner”
Belfast Telegraph
★★★★
“one marvellous song after another”
The Times
In 2010 James D. Reid approached his writing partner Nicolas Lloyd Webber with an idea for a new musical based on one of the most famous stories of all time, read by young and old alike in countries across the world.
That story was The Little Prince written by Antoine St Exupéry, the author and pilot who tragically lost his life during World War II but whose spirit was immortalised is this most enchanting of tales.
“…much to enjoy in its lush song-cycle, in its beautiful faux-naif animations and in the sonorous power of its lead performances”
Daily Telegraph
The timeless story of the Pilot who crashes in the desert (echoing Saint-Exupéry’s own experience in 1935) and encounters the innocent yet wise Little Prince became an instant classic on publication in 1943, and has been translated into 250 languages and dialects worldwide. The Little Prince’s deceptively simple storytelling of his life on his lonely asteroid, and his encounters with characters such as the haughty Rose, The Fox and The Snake around the solar system has filled the imaginations of millions of readers and is appreciated on many levels, from the simple to the profound. Lloyd Webber and Reid’ version captures the full magic of the story and sensitively illustrates the Pilot and Prince’s journeys with an epic sweep of cross musical genres and fabulous songs that will remain with audiences long after they leave the theatre.
The book has sold over 140,000,000 and continues to sell over 2 million copies a year, proving its continuing appeal, loved the world over.
The piece was quickly picked up by the new Lyric Belfast as part of their inaugural season in 2011/12 and acted as superb try-out and launch pad production.
The show received excellent local and national notices for its extraordinary and superior score alongside its set and costume design.
The St Exupéry Estate were present on opening night and expressed their delight with the piece.
“…sense that the composers too may be new stars rising”
The Times
“This musical space odyssey sounds gorgeous”
The Guardian
After Belfast, the show went back into development culminating in a full scale workshop at the Savoy Theatre in the heart of London’s West End theatrical community. An all star West End cast were led by director Paul Curran and musical director Simon Lee.
The St Exupéry Estate were once again present and were delighted to officially endorse the show.
The show was then picked up by Theatre Calgary for a run January to February 2016. The production was extremely well received by the audience and received numerous nominations for the Betty Mitchell Awards.
We are currently in discussion with numerous producers in the UK and internationally.