A Tale of Fellowship - An Evening of Song

A Tale of Fellowship - An Evening of Song comes to the Royal Pavilion on Thursday 24 September, from 19:30 to 22:00. It's a fundraiser for A Tale of Fellowship, a new musical by Brighton composer and lyricist Joseph Purdue, which has been in development for more than ten years. The evening features West End performers Tom Hier and Samantha Thomas performing songs from the show.

The musical itself is inspired by a letter written to J.R.R. Tolkien by his close friend G.B. Smith, which Purdue discovered in one of Tolkien's biographies. The message moved him to tell a story of friendship, creativity and the enduring power of art. Set in the early 20th century at King Edward's School, it follows an orphaned Tolkien, who found solace there after the sudden death of his mother, and the three fellow students who shared his passion for art. Together they formed a club to pursue their ambitions despite opposition from parents and guardians. Their friendship was tested by the First World War, when the four young men enlisted and Tolkien was forced to say goodbye to Edith, the love of his life. The music blends folk, film score and traditional musical theatre, and the evening raises funds to bring the full production to the stage for its 2027 run.

Tickets are £22.00 general admission, £35.00 for a supporter ticket, and £18.00 for concessions for students and under-25s, with a service fee added to each. The night runs from 19:30 to 22:00 at the Royal Pavilion, 4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton BN1 1EE.