Days of Hope

Music & Lyrics Howard Goodall

Book Renata Allen

 

“But while there are songs of love

While there are dreams of peace

While there are nights like this

There will be days of hope,

There will be days of hope.”

 

January, 1939: The Spanish Civil War is almost over. One family still loyal to the defeated Republic share a final evening together in the small fishing village that has been their home for generations. As they await the arrival of the victorious enemy, momentous decisions are made, an unexpected celebration is called for, and a new, uncertain future unfolds.

 

Press

“Simply put, composer Howard Goodall and writer Renata Allen have produced a musical that outshines anything the Rice-Lloyd Webber machine has come up with.”

Chloe Preece London Theatre.co.uk

 

“Goodall’s lyrics and music fuse and almost organically integrate into the unfolding drama in the warmth of the simple front-room of Carlos and Maria, their newly wed daughter Sofia and their English son-in-law Stanley. The music penetrates and moves without recourse to cheap sentimentality.”

Rivka Jacobson British Theatre Guide

 

“We shouldn’t underestimate the power of the music, which is ultimately the medium which brings home the personal aspects of the war and at times is almost unbearably poignant.”

RageOffStage

 

“A rather charming, beautiful evening in the theatre. Wonderful songs – marvellous, melodic, tuneful songs.”

Ruth Leon, LBC

 

“..a romantic & simple celebration of love, honour and heroism here embodied by the brave Spanish Republicans.”

Nick Curtis, Plays & Players.

 

“The audience listened to the songs in a satisfied hush, broken only by the sounds of throats catching. It is his ability to move an audience like this that makes Goodall such a distinctive composer. And the musical form can only be enhanced by the widening of subject matter that he has pioneered.”

Jim Hiley, Observer Magazine.

 

 

Songs

DAYS OF HOPE (i)

Sung by Lauren Samuels

 

HARVEST

Sung by the Original London Cast

 

SONG OF THE BRIGADES

Sung by Howard Goodall & Phyllida Hancock

 

DEMOCRACY

Sung by the Original London Cast

 

LORCA

Sung by Lauren Samuels

 

GOD SAID TO FRANCO

Sung by the Original Oxford Cast

 

MARKET DAY

Sung by Una Stubbs & the Original London Cast

 

SONG OF THE ENGLISH VOLUNTEER

Sung by Howard Goodall

 

BEER, BOMBS & MARCHING BOYS

Sung by Nicola Scott & the Original Oxford Cast

 

ANTONIO

Sung by Howard Goodall

 

IN OLD MADRID

Sung by Howard Goodall

 

LONG LIVE DEATH

Sung by Howard Goodall & Phyllida Hancock

 

IF NOT TODAY

Sung by Darryl Knock & the Original London Cast

 

DAYS OF HOPE (ii)

Sung by Phyllida Hancock & Howard Goodall

 

 

Performance licence & materials available from Faber Music

 

A Dutch language version of Days of Hope is available on request. (YouTube video of Jeroen van Delft’s 2004 Het Musical Lab Werktheater Amsterdam production is here).

 

Original Oxford Cast (1990):

Tim Hardy, Nicola Scott, Phyllida Hancock, Nicholas Caunter, William Relton, Kiran Hocking.

Directed by John Retallack for the Oxford Stage Company

Designed by Will Bowen, Costumes by Jill Parker.

 

Original London Cast (1991):

Una Stubbs, John Turner, Carla Mendonça, Nicholas Caunter, Phyllida Hancock,Darryl Knock, Danny Cerqueira.

Musical Director Paul Smith. Guitars: Max Brittain & John Coverdale.

Directed by John Retallack.

Designed by Will Bowen, Costumes by Jill Parker.

 

Original London Cast Album on Jay Records

 

Days of Hope UK professional revivals:

 

 The King’s Head Theatre, Islington, March 2007, directed by Russell Labey, with musical staging by Tara Wilkinson, produced by Stuart Piper, Sally Humphreys, Jason Haigh Ellery, Milton Morrissey & Andy Barnes Productions. Cast: David Burt, Siobhan McCarthy, Aimie Atkinson, Simon Thomas, Matt Cross, James Russell, Sebastian Chichizola & Victoria Yeates. Music director Kelvin Thomas.

 

Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre, Walthamstow, October 2013, directed by Tim McArthur, musical direction by Aaron Clingham. Cast: Christopher Dingli, Jo Wickham, Annie Kirkman, Rupert Baldwin, Lydia Marcazzo, Emanuel Alba & Alexander Barria.