To celebrate the West End premiere of THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY starring Mark Addy, Jenna Russell and Noah Mullins at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Passenger, who has written the music and lyrics is performed a one-off concert to celebrate the production.
“An intimate evening of Passenger, bursting with warmth and soul”
To celebrate the launch of the musical adaptation of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in London’s Theatre Haymarket, Passenger gave a one-off concert. This is because he was tasked to write the music for the piece, and not, as I initially thought, because he’s just such a huge fan of the book (though I’m certain he is).
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is based on the 2021 book of the same name by Rachel Joyce. A successful 2023 film adaptation followed, starring Penelope Wilton and Jim Broadbent. The musical marks its third iteration. It stars Mark Addy, Jenna Russell, and Noah Mullins.
And Passenger, of Let Her Go fame, has written the score. So, backed only by Harold’s props, Passenger performed a selection of music from the musical (and Let Her Go, naturally). It turned out the majority of the audience were either pre-existing fans of the musical/film/book or pre-existing Passenger Fans. I was neither. Not out of spite, simply negligence of the two cultural objects. But I left a convert to the Church of Passenger.
Less so for Harold, who seemed a rather selfish, negligent man. Until he receives a letter from an old friend, Queenie, who is in a hospice dying, with no one to bid her farewell. Through a series of post boxes and chance conversations, Harold ends up walking the length of Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed, imploring Queenie to stay alive whilst he treks to her. As the title suggests, his journey becomes his own pilgrimage, and he self-actualises with every plod.
The music was lovely, gentle and fittingly ambulant. The concert was particularly intimate and surprisingly moving, even without former knowledge of the story. At one point, Passenger stepped away from the microphone, and performed a piece unamplified. In a display of even cosier intimacy, everyone leant towards the stage. Such a delightful evening promises greatness for the musical. It runs till the 18th April at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.