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★★★★★
One of my favourite things about theatre is getting to experience new writing in its evolutionary phases. When Joseph Purdue, the composer and co-lyricist behind new musical ‘Legends of Arahma’ reached out and asked if I’d like to review the associated cast album, which had been 7 years in the making, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to provide some thoughts. Featuring the voices of West End stars Kerry Ellis, Tom Hier and Soophia Foroughi to name but a few, the musical theatre concept album brings to life an adventure story by Dries Janssens which sees a navy lieutenant take over a ship and search for a new life. A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to accompany a friend and fellow reviewer to The Actors’ Church for one of Purdue’s other musicals ‘A Tale of Fellowship’, which centres on the early life of J. R. R. Tolkien. Now after hearing both scores, I can confirm that I am a definite fan of their work and hope to see both shows presented as full productions.
Show concept
The musical begins in 1845 and sees Copernicus Danbury (Tom Hier) set sail on the quest of a lifetime alongside his childhood friend Toby (Josh Clemetson), after dreaming about a magical land for years. The journey ends in a storm and the pair are left stranded in this exact place: Arahma. However, Arahma’s Kalani tribe has been expecting Copernicus’ arrival. A local prophecy perceives Copernicus to be the land’s saviour and a beacon of hope against the hatred-fuelled Zoran (Kerry Ellis): a previously loyal warrior who was banished from the kingdom many years ago. A mythical story of family, loyalty and deceit, ‘Legends of Arahma’ is reminiscent of an epic adventure tale and has the potential to offer something really new and exciting to the world of musical theatre. Blending a powerful, warrior-focused score with layered characters, the musical has a cinematic quality and many of the tracks could work as film anthems.
Initial thoughts on the music
It goes without saying that the original story is a rollercoaster, involving flashbacks, prophecies and complex characters. The musical compositions go a long way to illustrating the narrative, but with many different characters united against Zoran, it takes a couple of listens to really appreciate the attention to detail in the storytelling. With exquisite vocal performances and orchestrations, the more I listened the more I felt drawn into the world of Arahma, which Purdue and Janssens have so brilliantly created. Some of the tracks have mythical and tribal influences, notably ‘Campfire Dance’ and ‘Ancient Curse’, and it is this part of the musical which excites me most. I can just imagine the sheer impact these songs would have in a large auditorium.
Standout musical numbers
Copernicus’ ‘This I Vow’ is a momentous, exploratory seafaring track that gives you goosebumps at the start of the recording. Further into the album you can’t help but marvel at the range in the score from the delicacy of Namira’s (Sophie-Rose Middleton) ‘Fountain of Fortune’ to Zoran’s dramatic ‘Inferno’, highlighting the underlying themes of light and darkness. Additionally, combat-focused ‘The Measure of a Soldier’ reminds me a little of Mulan’s ‘I’ll Make a Man Out of You’. The Disney track is obviously far more comical and silly, but both tracks have a similar impact, highlighting the making of a warrior.
A promising future
I’ll be fascinated to hear what comes next for ‘Legends of Arahma’. As a highly visual person, I found myself imagining how a full-scale production could look, from the magical world of Arahma to the tribal/clan costume design. The album is incredibly atmospheric and is a strong foundation for an exciting future production. If you’re interested in hearing the music for yourself, you can purchase the album via Joseph Purdue’s website or listen to the 25 songs via major streaming platforms.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*I was given access to the ‘Legends of Arahma’ album in exchange for an unbiased review.
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