Interview with composer, playwright, choral director and musical theatre educator Spencer Williams, a co-writer of For Tonight. For Tonight will be showing at the Adelphi Theatre for one-night-only, on the 5th September. Book tickets here: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/for-tonight/#info
How would you describe For Tonight?
For Tonight is a story about three siblings as they try to uncover their past to understand their parent’s untimely death during the cholera pandemic in the 1830s. As writers, we wanted to create an epic musical that blended the unique musical traditions and cultures of the Welsh and Romani people, as well as write music that could be heard on the radio today. As it’s inspired by my ggg-grandfather’s journals, it’s been incredible to delve into my family history and the life and culture of North Wales. You’ll hear beautiful choral music, indie-rock, soaring melodies — all of which you’ll walk out of the theatre humming. It’s a beautiful, authentic, heart-wrenching story about love, loss, grief, and hope.
For Tonight, is inspired by true events, based on your own great-grandfather’s journal. How did you come across the journal and what was the process like turning his own words into a musical?
My mother gave me his handwritten journals, just before my own grandmother passed away. I sat down one day and began to read, and I was struck by my ggg-grandfather’s courage of leaving his small hometown in North Wales and ultimately traveling across the world and emigrating to America, and ultimately ending up in Ogden, Utah. I had so many questions… how does one ultimately decide to leave everything behind, sight unseen, and get on a boat? How do you get to the point of that decision of leaving everything behind? What was it like to live in the mid-1800s? What were the political and social issues of the day? The questions and inquiry hasn’t stopped since I read those pages over 10 years ago. It’s been a fascinating journey of my own — traveling to Wales, Liverpool, Isle of Man, interviewing folks and reading/researching — uncovering the world of my ggg-grandfather. One of the most incredible parts is how much I relate to his story — even over a hundred years later. He’s my hero, and has impacted my life in ways that are hard to put into words.
Being rooted in Welsh tradition and music, how important was it for you to represent your family’s nationality and heritage?
One of the most incredible parts of this journey has been to learn about my Welsh heritage. Both sides of my family come from North Wales — the Parry and Williams sides. When I traveled to Trelawnyd, Wales for the first time, there was this sense of “coming home”. There was this feeling of connection to something deeper — it was an absolutely beautiful day (which also happened to be my birthday). Since that moment, we have done everything we can to include Welsh creative and performers to be a part of this journey so that this story was as authentic as possible. And with each person we have brought on — I’ve learned more about my heritage, Welsh language/culture, and it’s really been a powerful experience creating those connections.
For Tonight is a one-night-only musical. What effect, if any, do you think this will have? And is there anything you hope to do with the musical in the future?
We are so excited to have FOR TONIGHT premiere in the West End as a one-night concert event. We have big dreams for this story to be heard and seen all over the UK — including North Wales, where this story was born. We really believe this story needs to be told and that audiences all over the UK will connect with it! But the biggest dream of all would be a long-running West End production.
Give us two reasons why someone should book a ticket to see For Tonight
#1: I can guarantee that you’ll have an incredible night of theatre — we will have 36 folks on the Adelphi stage — including a cast of 18, 10-person choir, and a full band. It will be an epic night of music and story-telling.
#2: You’ll want to be in “the room where it happens”. This will be an historical evening, something that I believe is only the beginning of the journey. And you’ll be able to say “I was there! I am a part of West End history.”