On 18th November 1993, Bridgwater URC gave the premiere performance of ‘The Writing On The Wall’, a new musical by David Churchyard based on the first half of the Old Testament book of Daniel.
The show played to a packed house over three consecutive nights and almost 1,000 people came to see it. Its success far surpassed the expectations of ‘The Committee’ who had bravely given the go-ahead to stage this unknown musical by an unknown composer. In fact it was only two-thirds written when the decision to perform it was taken, but they needn’t have worried, the audience loved it!
One Show : Three Kings From the outset it should be understood that great liberties have been taken with historic accuracy and several poetic licences were purchased in order to portray these Biblical events on a small stage in a Somerset church. Nonetheless, the essential tenets of Daniel’s story prevail.
We begin just as Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest of all the Babylonian rulers, returns from Jerusalem having laid it to ruin over a number of years. He captured many prisoners of war, among them four faithful Jewish noblemen, the heroes of our story, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Nebuchadnezzar also took many sacred items from the temple in Jerusalem as plunder. God speaks to Nebuchadnezzar through dreams and then enables Daniel and his friends to interpret them. Next on the scene is Belshazzar, perhaps the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. A wicked man in the eyes of God. Belshazzar chose to throw a party in honour of his ‘gods’ of gold, silver, wood, iron and stone, and during this party he used the sacred items Nebuchadnezzar had brought from the Jerusalem temple. God decides that ‘enough is enough’ and the writing was on the wall – quite literally!
King Darius, a Mede, is the next ruler of Babylon. He is essentially a good man but falls prey to the cunning satraps and royal advisors who have been pitted against the Jewish nobles since their arrival in Babylon. They trick Darius into sending Daniel into the lion’s den, condemned by the law of the Medes and Persians. Who can save him now?
Stage This Musical
A fast-paced visit to the heart of ancient Babylon that takes in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, Daniel in the lion’s den and, of course, God’s message to King Belshazzar which is The Writing On The Wall.
A lively show that retells these great events with humour but never overlooking God’s miraculous involvement in the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and the effect upon the Kings of Babylon as recorded in the Old Testament book of Daniel.
Ideal for churches, schools and amdram/theatrical groups looking for something that is fun to perform and a proven audience-pleaser. A great setting, some great tunes, retelling some great bible events and giving the glory to God!
Listen to our audio show-reel:
If you are interested in staging the show, let us know by using Contact Us and we’ll be in touch.
Score & Libretto
A full Score and Libretto are available for the show, as well as a Director’s Guide.
Score:
Piano score including chords, song lyrics & full script
Libretto:
Includes song lyrics & full script
Director’s Guide:
Notes designed to help the director recreate the show on stage
If you have a competent band (minimum piano, bass and drums) then the full-piano score should give you all you need for musicians and choir.
If you are unable to put a band together, backing tracks for all songs are available.
Either way, if you are interested in staging The Writing On The Wall at your church, school or theatre please get in touch using the Contact Us form.
Album & Backing Tracks
Featuring some of the original cast and recorded at several locations across the UK, this album is a great record of the full show, whether you’re listening for leisure or learning the songs to perform the show yourself. Available for £10 + p&p.
To order The Writing On The Wall CD, or any of our other albums, use the Contact Us form, give us your postal address and we’ll confirm BACS & price details.
We can also supply a CD or MP3 backing tracks for all the songs if you plan to stage the show but have no band. Please contact us for more details.
Not the best start to the day but listened to David Churchyard’s The Writing on the Wall on the train to Croydon this morning and felt immediately lifted – especially the track ‘Dreaming’ sung by the hugely talented Fiona Holter who has such a FABULOUS voice. Thanks, David & Fiona, my day has just got so much better.
Andy T, Thetford, UK
Remembering The 1993 Performances
Back in 1999, Phil Mann, the Musical Director of the first performances of The Writing On The Wall was asked to write a short account of his memories of the production. We’re pleased he has allowed us to include his article here.
It must have been an evening early in 1993 when I first heard about it. Probably over coffee and biscuits after Music Group practice one Friday night. And as we chatted, David casually asked whether we were going to follow up the success of ‘Joseph’ with another Westfield production. We tossed the pros and cons of a number of Christian musicals about, and then came the sucker punch – “I’ve been putting a few songs together about the story of Daniel … What do you think about Westfield doing that?” And thus, for me, the idea of ‘The Writing On The Wall’ was born.
I was sceptical. ‘Joseph’ had been different – a well-known, popular musical written by a pair of ‘names’, a musical I knew and had sung, and with which I was confident; selling seats hadn’t been a problem. This sounded risky. Any music I could have a look at? Not yet – this composer doesn’t really read or write music! What sort of songs are we talking about? Well, they’re not actually all written yet, but there will definitely be a Somerset drinking song about a rat drowned in cider! What’s the title of this musical? Don’t know, although the minister, Jeff, had said something recently about ‘the writing on the wall’. It didn’t sound at this embryonic stage like a guarantee for success.
But David and Melanie as individuals are very persuasive – as a combination they are irresistible! And so, despite my better judgment, it happened … and did it happen!
For most of 1993, the majority of Westfielders (over 100 people were involved) gave their time, talent and energy to the production in one way or another. It was bigger and more difficult than ‘Joseph’ and therefore in the end more rewarding and more effective in bringing the church together in working on a single project.
In fact, during my time at Westfield, I do not think there was any other initiative that had a more beneficial effect in terms of building up unity and fellowship within the church. I don’t think anyone that took part in ‘The Writing On The Wall’ will ever forget it.
Lots of people helped to make it a success, but it was unmistakably a Churchyard production. David’s God-given musical talent (composition, keyboard, guitar, drums – some of us struggle with just one), individual (unique!) sense of fun, vision and faith, and Melanie’s organisational and production skills, shared vision, capacity for seeing what will work and what won’t, and ability to keep everyone on board – well, it’s a strong combination!
Phil Mann (Musical Director & King Belshazzar) 1999
