The first theatre adaptation of A Clockwork Orange accompanied by the author’s own musical score is being staged with the help of the Manchester Metropolitan University’s Anthony Burgess expert.
Andrew Biswell, Professor of Modern Literature at Manchester Metropolitan University and Director of the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, has worked closely on the production of A Clockwork Orange: A Play with Music, which runs at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre until July 12.
It is the first UK stage version of A Clockwork Orange to make use of the song lyrics and music composed by Burgess in 1986. The music has been newly edited from two manuscripts in the Burgess Foundation’s archive.
Professor Biswell said: “Since last year I have been working with the director, Nick Bagnall, to develop his new production of the play. We discussed the notebooks and other early drafts of the play and its music, which have survived in the archive of the Burgess Foundation.
“As the production took shape, it was a pleasure to introduce the actors to this material, and to show them the collection of books and objects formerly owned by Anthony Burgess and members of his family.”
The production was featured on BBC Two’s Front Row Late last week, which also featured an interview with Prof Biswell.
Burgess completed the musical adaptation 25 years after the original publication of the cult novel. He died in 1993 without ever hearing his theatre music performed.
Professor Biswell said: “Since last year I have been working with the director, Nick Bagnall, to develop his new production of the play. We discussed the notebooks and other early drafts of the play and its music, which have survived in the archive of the Burgess Foundation.
“As the production took shape, it was a pleasure to introduce the actors to this material, and to show them the collection of books and objects formerly owned by Anthony Burgess and members of his family.”
The production was featured on BBC Two’s Front Row Late last week, which also featured an interview with Prof Biswell.
Burgess completed the musical adaptation 25 years after the original publication of the cult novel. He died in 1993 without ever hearing his theatre music performed.
