Recent graduates perform new collection of songs at Chiswick Playhouse

The world premiere of original songs by Adam Gerber and Tori Allen-Martin will be held at Chiswick Playhouse this October.

Their Chapter Next project launched in July with the aim to professionally produce their new work and the two concerts will act as a fundraiser for the recording. Each event will feature 14 new pieces, performed by 12 musical theatre graduates and established guest performers who are yet to be announced.

Allen-Martin and Gerber met working on Muted at The Bunker Theatre in 2016 and they have wanted to collaborate together ever since. Chapter Next was initially conceived when the two were at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, writing songs for students. They then decided to extend the process into a passion project, which aims to give more opportunities to emerging talent in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Allen-Martin is a performer, writer, singer and director, who was named on the BBC’s new talent hotlist in 2017 and received an OFFIE nomination for her play STREETS. Gerber has worked extensively as a musical director and was The Andrew Lloyd Webber Associate Musical Director to The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama BA Acting Musical Theatre Course.

Allen-Martin said: “Training is expensive and the industry is brutal, 2020 graduates didn't get the opportunity to finish their training properly - they missed out on the final chapter - the part where you get to hone your craft by performing in front of live audiences and showcasing in front of agents. It's always been hard to start out in this industry, and in this current climate, it's even harder. We have to keep nurturing, lifting and developing new talent and we have to give them spaces to find their own voices.”

The Chapter Next concerts will take place on 23 & 24 October and tickets cost £20.

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