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Felix Cross

FELIX CROSS

  (1953 - )
Nationality:    British
email:    n/a     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    Berlin Associates  represented by Julia Mills

Okay, so I got here via a rather unorthodox route: born in Trinidad; moved to England aged 1; went to school in South London (Sutton, Mitcham, Tooting, Epsom Art College); guitarist in rock, jazz bands; songwriter; stand-up comic; music teacher (Goldsmiths College); then discovered theatre at the Albany Empire where realised I had always been trying to write musical-theatre without knowing it; 1996 got the job as Artistic Director of Black Theatre Co-op, which became Nitro; still there after 17 years. Re-reading this it doesn't seem such an unorthodox route after all - it's the only one I could have taken. Got an MBE in 2012 for services to musical theatre; as a wobbly socialist republican this was a conflict but as an artist I was immensely grateful for the nomination from my peers. You can see a full list of the work I've done in the CV section On a personal level, I'm married to the formidable and rather gorgeous Kristine Landon-Smith and we have two boys, Louis 14 and Ishan 12 - both equally formidable in their own ways. Kristine works in Sydney so I am experimenting with living between London and Sydney and running Nitro as an international company. It's an exciting adventure. . . . .

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below is a list of Felix Cross's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Blues For Railton         Bottle Imp, The         Convict's Opera, The         Evocation Of Papa Mas         Fine Balance, A         Fourteen Songs, Two Weddings And A Funeral         Glory         Gulp Fiction         Hatched - The Boggits         High Heel Parrotfish!         Iced         Jack & the Beanstalk         Massachusetts Carib         Orchestra, The         Passports To the Promised Land         Slamdunk         Trickster's Payback         Up Against the Wall         Wedding Dance, The         Wuthering Heights
Blues For Railton

Synopsis:
Tragi-comedy about a black immigrant family's experiences in Britain, fusing afro-Caribbean rituals and rhythms.

Notes:
from novel by David Simon

1st Produced:
Empire, London     25 Apr 1985

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical Play Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Bottle Imp, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Warwick Arts Centre     1995

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Convict's Opera, The

Synopsis:
the Convict's Opera follows Gay's pattern in many respects, not least the score which lifts popular tunes ranging from the original 18th century ballad "Over the hills and far away" (sung by Olivier in the film version) to strains of Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and the Gypsy Punks. a fine tradition which is a distinct improvement on the tuneless number of so many so-called "original" musicals.

Notes:
John Gay's long-planned sequel to his 18th century ballad entertainment the Beggars' Opera. written by Stephen Jeffreys. Music by Felix Cross

1st Produced:
Sydney Theatre     2008

Organisations:
Out of Joint & Sydney Theatre Company

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Evocation Of Papa Mas

Synopsis:
When the plantation owner, Mr Walker, kills a penniless street beggar trying to court his daughter, he's haunted to the grave and into the spirit world beyond - to a point where carnival is his only option. Set in a cartoon world, The Evocation of Papa Mas is a love story and a mischievous parody which is sometimes surreal, sometimes beautiful and poignant, yet shocking and raucously funny at the same time.

Notes:
written by John Wright, music by Felix Cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Told By An Idiot Theatre Company

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Piece with text Piece

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  doubling

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Fine Balance, A

Synopsis:
India, 1975, and a callous government has declared a State of emergency. In these uncertain times Dina Dalal - a spirited Parsi widow determined to avoid a second marriage - takes a student boarder and two Hindu tailors into her ramshackle flat. as the cruel policies of slum clearances and enforced birth control bring chaos to the city, the four strangers whose lives have become inextricably linked find themselves crossing divides of caste, class and religion to form the most unexpected of friendships. a Fine Balance vividly captures an astonishing moment in Indias history with a tender story of exceptional human spirit.

Notes:
written by Sudha Bhuchar And Kristine Landon-Smith. Based on the Booker-shortlisted novel by Rohinton Mistry. Music by Felix Cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
adaptation

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Fourteen Songs, Two Weddings And A Funeral

Synopsis:
Pooja falls in love with Rajesh. Prem, Rajesh's brother, falls in love with Nisha, Pooja's sister. But when Pooja dies suddenly and in tragic circumstances, Pooja finds herself betrothed to the wrong brother. Will Nisha's secret love for Prem be discovered before it's too late? Featuring the classic Bollywood film ingredients of romance, Drama and comedy, Fourteen Songs, Two Weddings and a Funeral is a spirit lifting and enchanting love story lavishly told in true Bollywood style.

Notes:
written by Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith. Adapted from Rajshri Productions' film Hum Aapke Hain Koun. Lyrics by Shaun mcCarthy and Felix Cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Tamasha Theatre Company

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
adaptation

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Glory

Synopsis:
anti-imperialist story of struggle for independence for Trinidad and Tobago interweaved with abuse of young woman by her father.

Notes:
1st prize London Weekend Telivision Plays on Stage competition, London, 1988

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Play Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Gulp Fiction

Synopsis:
Two ex-cons on a mission. Returning to the East End of London after 7 years in jail they discover their private lives are in ruins.

Notes:
written by Trish Cooke, music by Felix Cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Hatched - The Boggits

Synopsis:
Hatched is a series of fresh, new works-in-progress by artists who have a connection to the Albany. "It's Johnny 'Greeny' Greenteeth's 11th birthday and his dad, Danny, has been sitting in a tree in their garden, howling at the moon. . ." Boggits are just like us, only more so. They are spiky, argumentative, dangerous, unreliable, noisy and emotional. . .with pointy ears. Based on the BBC book, Boggart's Sandwich, by Martin Riley, The Boggits is a larger-than-life musical comedy for children and their families about being different and celebrating that difference.

Notes:
written by Martin Riley and Felix Cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
60 min children's musical comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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High Heel Parrotfish!

Synopsis:
a tale of six Trinidadian drag queens determined to survive in the island of calypso, where cissified men in frocks are still liable to be arrested.

Notes:
written by Christopher Rodriguez. Music by Felix cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Talawa Theatre Company in association with Nitro

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Iced

Synopsis:
Set in the USA between the 1960's and now - a powerful and moving story of Cornelius Washington JR., a crack addict in his mid 40's. He is no poor black ghetto cliche: Cornelius Washington is the product of a stable, middle-class black American family. The drama takes us through a life full of material successes, sex, love, betrayal, drugs and death

Notes:
written by Ray Shell, music by Felix Cross

1st Produced:
Nottingham Playhouse >>>     13 Nov 1997

Organisations:
Black Theatre Co-Op

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Jack & the Beanstalk

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
pantomime

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Massachusetts Carib

Synopsis:
elements of carnival with Roman Catholic Massachusetts as afro-Caribbean Music and forcibly converted slaves arriving in a latter day Britain replete with passports.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Albany Empire, London     1987

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Play Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Orchestra, The

Synopsis:
play with a concert constructed from a knowledge of the lives of working musicians

Notes:
Original Playwright - Jean Anouilh. Translated by Jeremy Sams, music by Felix Cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
in "Plays 2" Methuen, London, 1997   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Adaptation

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  6            Other:  extras

Further Reference:

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Passports To the Promised Land

Synopsis:
Jordan is on a voyage of discovery. At nineteen years of age he leaves the Caribbean for England in search of his father. But rather than reaching England's shores, his journey leads him unexpectedly to a far more distant destination. At the gates of Heaven, Jordan watches his family as they build a new life and the spirit of the Caribbean moves us from the 1960's to today's streets of Notting Hill. Calypso and reggae meet gospel and lovers' rock, fused with the sounds of hip-hop and rap to produce an hilarious, touching and magical story of love and revenge on an epic scale.

Notes:
book and music by Felix Cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
NITRO

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  4            Other:  extras

Further Reference:

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Slamdunk

Synopsis:
A Hip-Hop musical. Basketball is the most popular game on the planet. Streetball is its rougher, tougher, younger brother. You've got to be strong; you've got to be fast. . .above all you've got to have style. Cory is the best streetball player on the estate. He wants to leave his team, the Zeros, and go legit with the A-list. But when burning ambition takes over and he turns his back on his friends and family, his dream threatens to destroy him. Blending fast-paced action, stunning basketball moves, rap and street dance, Slamdunk is the most dazzling, highly-charged musical.

Notes:
written by Benji Reid And Felix Cross, music by Soweto Kinch, Lyrics by Zena Edwards

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  1            Other:  ensemble

Further Reference:

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Trickster's Payback

Synopsis:
Its 2099 and scoundrels, villains and tricksters are fighting it out. Who do you trust at payback time when you're surrounded by double agents, dangerous women and high-tech hit men?

Notes:
written by Martin Glynn; music by Felix Cross

1st Produced:
Warehouse Theatre Croydon, Dingwall Road Croydon Cr0 2Nf     02 Oct 1998

Organisations:
Black Theatre Co-operative

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Up Against the Wall

Synopsis:
Henry's got an idea. A great idea. An idea that's gonna make him millions. He's gonna write a musical. A black musical. A big black musical - like you've never seen before. It's gonna be afros, flares, medallions..take it to the bridge and let it all hang out. The brilliant thing about Henry's idea is that it's all so simple.. A few songs from the '70s - Shaft, Superfly, Move On Up, some funky moves, some serious vibe and hey presto - you got a hit..Henry's friend Courtney thinks they're on to a good thing. Courtney's gonna be a director - (hasn't worked much recently - bit of trouble with an actress..) Now all they need is a cast. This could be bigger than Shaft, Better than Grease. Badder than Mohammed Ali. It'll be the greatest musical ever.

Notes:
By Felix Cross And Paulette Randall

1st Produced:

Organisations:
NITRO

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
soul-funk musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Wedding Dance, The

Synopsis:
West Side Story meets Dangerous Liaisons with a dash of Tarantino in this passionate new love story - a dance musical where the movement and energy of salsa drives a fiery and explosive narrative. Cuban immigrant Jose is a modern Don Juan and a magnificent dancer. arriving in London, he exploits his talent for teaching that most passionate dance of them all - the salsa. a serial seducer and betrayer, he is surrounded by women who want to be with him and men who want to be like him. But the temptation of an irresistible challenge proves to be one seduction too far.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
NITRO

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  dancers

Further Reference:

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Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights
the scorched desert of Rajasthan is the setting for this musical adaptation of emily Bronte's timeless tale of passion, jealousy and revenge. Shakuntala is the fiery and headstrong daughter of spice merchant Singh. Krishan is the wily street urchin from Bombay that Singh brings home after a trip to market. Thrown together as unlikely siblings, a tumultuous romance soon develops. But can their love withstand Indian society's taboos and hierarchies, not to mention Shakuntala's yearning for a life of luxury that only neighbouring landowner Vijay can provide? Wuthering Heights, one of the world's great love stories, is given a vibrant new life in this new adaptation produced by Tamasha and inspired by classic Indian cinema.

Notes:
Bollywood version of emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, written by Deepak Verma with music by Sheema Mukherjee And Felix Cross And lyrics by Cross

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Tamasha

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  8            Female:  7            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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