This week, Artaban The Musical takes over The Actors’ Church in Covent Garden to add a new riff to the story of Christmas. It’s the tale of a fourth Wise Man, an unsung hero who sacrifices his dreams to help others.
This new rock musical is based on the book The Other Wise Man by Henry van Dyke. It promises to be a story that’s full of heart and soul. And although it’s set over 2000 years ago, it’s still relevant today. The play is set to head to the West End in 2024, but you can see a showcase of Artaban The Musical now at the church.
It’s an uplifting story, which is what we all need at this time of year, right? And it follows the adventures of Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, on his lifelong quest to deliver his gift of gemstones to Jesus. Will he succeed? Will his sacrifices reveal the true light and purpose of his life? As the story of Artaban’s journey unfolds, we meet an assortment of colourful characters. Artaban despairs at the world filled with corruption, oppression and greed. But all hope is not lost…
A different show for Christmas
The show features a bunch of vibrant songs, so expect plenty of guitar riffs and toe-tapping tunes. The music is composed by Rick Radley who is a rock and blues musician and songwriter, who’s worked with the likes of Billy Fury and The Flirtations. And the musical director is Kipper Eldridge, a Grammy and Emmy winning producer and musician.
There’s also an experienced West End cast that includes Danny Becker as Artaban, Matt Bond as Herod and Natalie Chua as Martha. It’s taking place at The Actors’ Church, or St Paul’s to give it it’s proper name. This Covent Garden church has long-standing links to the theatre, hence its affectionate nickname.
Ready to get into the festive spirit? All of our festive suggestions will be appearing here, with more ideas added as we get nearer to the big day!
When: 24th November at 3.30pm and 7.30pm
Where: The Actors’ Church (St Paul’s) Covent Garden, London WC2E 9ED
£: Tickets cost £20
More info: https://artabanthemusical.co.uk/