A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Hired Man

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  5w, 14m

Book by Melvyn Bragg
Music and Lyrics by Howard Goodall

“Thoughtful and, on occasions, most moving… That rare thing: a folk opera of our immediate past.” – Daily Mail

The Hired Man

Request licence
Get the Script
  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 14m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences

Details

Summary

Based on Melvyn Bragg’s stirring novel of rural and industrial working life early in the 20th century, The Hired Man tells of one family’s – Bragg's grandparents’ – journey from land laborers to colliers and back to the land. The superb score is a marvelous succession of chorales, operatic duets and vigorous, foot-stomping rhythms.

Keywords
Performing Groups
JOHN
EMILY
JACKSON
TED BLACKLOCK/ISAAC
SETH
SALLY
MAY
HARRY
PENNINGTON/VICAR
RECRUITING OFFICER/DAN
JACK/UNION CHAIRMAN
LANDLADY
JOE SHARP
BOB/ALF
BILL
EZRA
JOSH
TOM
BETH
HIRED MEN, FARMERS, MINERS, SOLDIERS
  • Time Period 1900-1910
  • Setting

    Period: early 1900s.

  • Features Period Costumes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Bracing, rugged and exhilarating [with] splendidly original music.” – Time Out

“Thoughtful and, on occasions, most moving… That rare thing: a folk opera of our immediate past.” – Daily Mail

“Melvyn Bragg’s qualities as a novelist – humanity, idealism and a complex and highly articulate man's understanding of those who are simple and inarticulate – shine out from the musical.” – Sunday Telegraph

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

8 Classic British Musicals to Perform
by Cathy Thomas
August 5, 2019

Videos

  • The Hired Man: Audience Reaction youtube thumbnail

    The Hired Man: Audience Reaction

  • The Hired Man: Original Cast Highlights youtube thumbnail

    The Hired Man: Original Cast Highlights

  • The Hired Man: Mercury Theatre Promo youtube thumbnail

    The Hired Man: Mercury Theatre Promo

Music

Song Samples

Song of the Hired Man
Fill it to the Top
Now for the First Time
Work Song
Who Will You Marry Then?
Get Up and Go, Lad
I Wouldn’t Be the First
Fade Away
What a Fool I’ve Been
If I Could
You Never See the Sun
What Would You Say to Your Son?
The Union
Farewell
War
No Choir of Angels
The Re-Hiring

Act I

1. “Song of the Hired Men” – All
2. “Fill It To The Top” – Isaac, Seth & John
3. “Now For The First Time” – Emily & John
4. “Song of the Hired Men (Reprise)” – All
5. “Work Song: It's All Right For You” – Farmers & Men
6. “Who Will You Marry Then?” – Emily & Sally
6a. “Interlude (Time Passing)” – Instrumental
7. “Get Up And Go, Lad” – Isaac & Men
8. “I Wouldn't Be The First” – Emily & Jackson
9. “Fade Away” – John & Emily
10. “Hear Your Voice (I)” – Jackson
11. “What A Fool I've Been” – John
12. “If I Could” – Emily
13. “Song of the Hired Men (Reprise)” and “Union” – All

Act II

14. “You Never See The Sun” – May
14a. “Interlude (Jackson)” – Instrumental
15. “What Would You Say To Your Son?” – John
16. “Union Song: Men of Stone” – Seth, Blacklock & Men
16a. “Interlude (Gathering of Soldiers)” – Instrumental
17. “Farewell Song” – Emily, John, Isaac, May & All
18. “War Song: So Tell Your Children” – Isaac, Jackson, John, Emily & Men
18a. “Trumpet Solo” – Instrumental
18b. “Harp Solo” – Instrumental
19. “Crossbridge Dance” – Isaac & All
20. “No Choir of Angels” – Emily & John
20a. “Hear Your Voice (II)” – Jackson
21. “Re-hiring: Song of the Hired Men (Reprise)” – All

Piano
Harpsichord
Harp
Keyboard (Optional - replaces both Harp and Harpsichord parts if required)
Trumpet
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

    Please submit a license request to determine availability.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

19 Piano-Vocal
1 Piano-Conductor
1 Piano
1 Harp
1 Harpsichord
1 Keyboard (Optional - replaces both Harp and Harpsichord parts if required)
1 Trumpet
1 Violin 1
1 Violin 2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Double Bass

A Full Score is available for an additional fee. Please contact your licensing representative for more information.

19 Piano-Vocal

Get the Script

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Melvyn Bragg

Melvyn Bragg

Melvyn Bragg was born in Wigton, Cumbria, and educated there and at Wadham College, Oxford.

His broadcasting career began at the BBC in 1961, and soon afterwards he published his first novel. He worked on the arts programme Monitor with Huw Wheldon in the mid-1960s; during thi ...

View full profile
Howard Goodall

Howard Goodall

Howard Goodall is an award-winning composer of choral music, stage musicals, film and TV scores, is well-known as a lyricist, author, music historian and broadcaster, and from 2007-11 was England’s first ever National Ambassador for Singing, leading a programme to improve the ...

View full profile

Now Playing