Peter de Bermingham - The Musical.

On the theme of Loyalty Peter tells the story of the man who turned his poor village into Birmingham, winning freedoms for the English, from their tyrannical Norman occupiers. This Two Act Medieval Pop Musical, with a cast of 30, blends costume drama, black humour and 35 songs, to stab at wounds that are as fresh today as they were a thousand years ago.

The Plot - What you do. Where you're from. Who you love.

At the age of 10, poor English born Peter is adopted by the powerful French speaking Baron of Dudley. Renamed 'Pierre' he is raised the Norman way. Upon knighthood he joins the first Crusade, meeting with a violent death at the hands of his enemy Lord Oolighan.
Five years later he astonishes all by returning. Witnessing his Mother's untimely death he commits to her final wish, to marry Aedilthryd: the village beauty. Before he can marry he falls in love with his surrogate sister, Lady Nicole.
His plans to start a market and trade arms from his home town of Bermingham are thwarted by Lord Oolighan. Despite his connections with the ruling elite, Peter finds himself stuck between the 'us' and 'them' of a country divided by birth. His loyalty is tested when his younger brother Richard, attempts to kill his surrogate father - the Baron of Dudley.

SONGBOOK - by Robert Salisbury - download

Cast

THE ENGLISH

de Berminghame Family

• PETER ........................Adult; main character - Peter de Berminghame. - [Tenor]
• CHILD PETER ..............10 years old, races horse, goes to live in Dudley Castle. - [Soprano]
• RICHARD the RED ........Peter's firey, red headed, younger brother. - [Tenor]
• MOTHER .....................Peter's Mother. - [Soprano]
• WULFWIN....................Peter's Father - hapless drunk - returns all in white as SPIRIT.
  
  Villagers of Berminghame
• AEDILTHRYD ...............Buxom, big haired, beauty. Peter's girlfriend. - [Mezzo Soprano]
• BOSKER .....................Bard of Brum - Singer. Happy go lucky. - [Tenor]
• OSDRID .......................Wife of Bosker.
• KETELBURT ................Village idiot. Stutters. Cynical. Superstitious.
• VILLAGERS .................Nameless English villagers.
  
  Other English
• COMETUS ...................The Druid Messenger - Narrates.
• SUTTON .......................Former English Lord of Dudley Castle. Wanting Revenge. - [Baritone]
• FATHER BROWN...........Good Priest to Baron Pagnell. In finest worsted threads. - [Tenor]
• THE HOUNDS ..............Father Brown's posse.
• BOOKIE .......................Compares and organises the horse races.
• FREE MARKETEERS ......3 Market stall holders.
• KING ............................King Harry of England and Normandy.
  
  THE NORMANS
  
  Dudley Castle
• BARON.........................Baron of Dudley. Gervace Pagnell. A Norman. Adopts Peter. [Tenor]
• BARONESS..................Baroness of Dudley. Drag role. Richard's seductress. - [Contralto]
• NICOLE .......................Lady Nicole Godiva of Mercia. Blonde, dressed in shimmering white. Peter's adopted sister.
• MERILDA .....................Lady in Waiting. Companion to Lady Nicole.
• LALIQUE ......................Lawyer to the Baron of Dudley - [Tenor]
• GARIMOUND ................Hangman/Tax collector/Guard. Rotund. Always eating. - [Baritone]
• THE NORMANS ...........Norman Knights who help Warwick attack Peter and Naomi.
• SENTRIES ....................Guards at the gates of Dudley castle.
  
  OTHERS
  
• OULIGHAN ....................Lord Oulighan of Warwick, Cruel, French. Long blonde hair. To Marry Nicole, Traitor to Baron Pagnell. [Baritone]
• AMUNDSTAD ...............7"giant. Warwick's sidekick. Closet gay.
• SIGMUND the DANE ......Blacksmith, Freeman living on Berminghame land. - [Bass]
• SARACEN .................... Caught in Sepulchre where Jesus's cross hides.

The Artists

Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats...

OPENING MUSIC: Flute Solo

ACT I - The Arrival Of The Normans - [1066-1087 AD]

CURTAINS OPEN.

Scene # 1: BERMINGHAM MANOR. EXTERIOR.

Before Dawn Starry sky. Snow cover. Snowing. Howling wind. Owls Hooing.

1. Halleys Comet Listen - sung by CHOIR
Noticing bright lights 10 year old Peter runs outside. Garimound arrives to announce that as of Christmas Day 1066, William, former Duke of Normandy has been crowned the new King of England.

2. Christmas Morning Listen - sung by WULFWIN, MOTHER, CHILD PETER
Unconcerned by the fact that the King is now a french speaking Norman, the villagers gather to sing in praise of Christmas Day. Until the Normans arrive and terrorize the village of Bermingham.


 
 

Scene # 2: FIELDS NEAR DUDLEY CASTLE. EXTERIOR.

DAWN - the SUN emerges for Race Day.

3. AlbionListen- sung by CHILD PETER
Peter's father is too drunk to ride his horse, so young Peter rides Albion against Lord Ouligan of Warwick, who rides Blackeye. Lord Oulighan cheats to win.


 
 



4. Its Not The Belt Listen- sung by CHILD PETER, MOTHER & VILLAGERS
As Lord Oulighan whips Peter for calling him a cheat, 10 year old Peter pleas to his Mother for explanation.

5. Welcome To Dudley Market Listen- sung by CHILD PETER, LALIQUE & MARKETEERS
As Lalique escorts child Peter to Dudley Castle, he makes shows him Dudley Market.

6. We're The English Part 1 - sung by VILLAGERS
The English Rebels sing of revenge and hatred of their Norman masters.

Scene # 3: BERMINGHAM VILLAGE. EXTERIOR.

BOSKER and KETELBURT are attending cockrels, when GARIMOUND and LALIQUE arrive.

7. Swear Alleigance to the King - Listen - sung by LALIQUE, GARIMOUND & VILLAGERS
Richard, Bosker and Ketelburt, and the poor villagers of Berminghame are visited by Lalique and Garimound, collecting tax.

Scene # 4: HOLY LAND. JERUSALEM. Foot of Mount Olives.

PETER, SUTTON, LORD OOLIGHAN and AMUNDSTAD are trying to find the Cross of Jesus.

8. Fight the Fight - sung by NORMAN KNIGHTS
The Normans, with Peter, march off to the Holy Land, chanting of their fighting spirit, but lack of belief in the cause.

9. We Took Jerusalem - sung by KNIGHTS
The Norman Knights sing of victory over the Saracens, in taking Jerusalem.

10. Totally Evil Listen - sung by OULIGHAN
Lord Oulighan of Warwick, is interogating a Saracen, captured in Jerusalem. He makes it clear he has no scruples about killing.

11. Let The Devil Take My Soul Listen - sung by WULFWIN &CHOIR
Peter's father, Wulfwin, returns from the dead, to watch over Peter's dying body. He makes a pack with the Devil, in return for granting Peter life and sings a plea for forgiveness for having let the Baron take Peter as a child.

Scene # 5: WOODS nr BERMINGHAM.

Yellow, Brown and Honey leaves falling. Autumn.

12. Deeper Strength Within Listen - sung by MOTHER & PETER
On his return to Bermingham, Peter finds his Mother dying from malnutrition, she sings of her love for her boys, Peter and Richard.

13. There's A Dark Stain On This Flag Listen - sung by PETER
Peter has an epiphany, realizing the full impact of the Norman conquest over his people, the English.

Scene # 6: WOODS near BERIMINGHAM.

Springtime. Lighter clothing.

14. We're The English - sung by MEIN BLUT rebels.

15. I Want To Take This Baronate. Listen - sung by SUTTON & VILLAGERS
Deposed English Baron of Dudley, Sutton, leads his band of rebels, 'Meine Blood', to a rousing claim, that he wants to take Dudley Castle back from the Normans.


 
 


16. You're The Devil [Is It Me] Listen - sung by AEDILTHRYD
In accordance with his Mother's dying wish, Peter is engaged to Aedilthryd. She sings of his true but dark manner.

17. No One Controls Me Listen - sung by RICHARD & PETER
Peter councils his younger brother against getting involved with the rebels, but Richard couterclaims that Peter has become 'one of them' a Norman.

Scene # 7: DUDLEY CASTLE. EXTERIOR / INTERIOR.

18. To Be An Englishman Listen - sung by PETER & BARON
Peter petitions his surrogate father, the Baron of Dudley, to help him gain a Market Charter. But the Baron sees it as impossible.

Scene # 8: SIGMUND's MANOR, BERIMINGHAME. EXTERIOR

Sigmund is working some metal.

19. Sigmund The Dane Listen - sung by SIGMUND & VILLAGERS `
We meet the blacksmith of Bermingham, who only works for Lord Oulighan and will not work for Peter.

Scene # 9: Interior. DUDLEY CASTLE

Nicole and Merilda discuss marriage.

20. Ma Petite Nicole Listen - sung by BARON
The Baron warns his daughter Nicole, who is being set up to marry Lord Oulighan, about the amourous advances of English men.

21. One Day Listen - sung by NICOLE & CHOIR
Lady Nicole, is a teenager, and is full of apprehension as she comes of age, and thinks of her pending marriage.

22. Who Is That Over There? Listen - sung by PETER & NICOLE
Peter sees his surrogate sister Nicole. He falls in love instantly.

23. I Saw A Star - sung by PETER and AEDILTHLRYD
Peter and Aedilythryd, look to the stars for guidance in love.

Scene # 11: Exterior. WOODS NEAR BERMNIGHAME.

Nicole is resting, while Merilda frets.

ACT II - England Rebel

Scene # 10: BERMINGHAM EXTERIOR

Mein Blut rebels meet.

24. When The Fighting Begins - sung by SUTTON, RICHARD & VILLAGERS
Deposed English Baron, Sutton, plots with Mein Blut to re take his old Castle, in Dudley.

25. Is It Me? - sung by AEDILTHRYD
Despite her impending marriage to Peter, English beauty, Aedilthryd, suspects that he is in love with the Norman Lady Nicole.


 
 
26. This Crystal Night - sung by SUTTON, BARON, BARONESS, NICOLE, OULIGHAN
All parties are singing about the importance of Crystal Night, in which they will all see their future.

Scene # 11. DUDLEY CASTLE. INTERIOR

The BARONESS is alone in her hall.

27. Let's Fool Around Listen - sung by BARONESS,
Left alone in the Hall, at Dudley Castle, the Baroness attempts to seduce Peter, her surrogate son.

28. Peter, Oh Son of Mine - sung by BARON & CHOIR Listen
The Baron of Dudley confronts Peter, demanding to know where his brother, Richard the Red, is. He believe's him to be one of the rebels. Baron sung by Robert Salisbury, Peter sung by Steve Milne.


 
 


29. Who Are You Loyal To? - sung by BARON, PETER & RICHARD Listen
Peter's younger brother breaks in on the Baron and Peter, wanting to kill the Baron. Peter must decide who he will defend, his brother Richard or his surrogate father, the Baron.

Scene # 12. DUDLEY CASTLE. INTERIOR.

The BARONESS visit's RICHARD in the dungeons.

Scene # 13: DUDLEY CASTLE. EXTERIOR.

Morning. Gallows are prepared. Villagers & BOSKER, KETELBURT, ADEDILTHRYD, SUTTON and FATHER BROWN and the HOUNDS enter to gather around gallows.

30.In Gregorian Chant - Listen
The villagers sing a hymn for Richard the Red, who has been burnt to the stake.


 
 

Scene # 14. WOODS BERIMINGHAME.

PETER is alone in the woods.

31. Rejoice - sung by PETER, NICOLE & AEDILTHRYD Listen
Peter is along in the forest. He dreams of reunion with Nicole and though apart, in spirit they come together.

32. Albion pt 2 - sung by CHILD PETER and PETER
Peter races Lord Oulighan to Dudley Castle on Albion, his trusted horse.

Scene # 15. WOODS, near BIRMINGHAM.

PETER wanders, looking at clouds. Light thunder rumbles.

Scene # 16: BERMINGHAM. Exterior.

Dusk. Bosker & Ketelburt.

33. Halleys Comet reprise - sung by CAST
The sky is visited by the lights once more. And the cast sing of the legacy of the 'de Berminghame' family.

34. She Has Beaten Me - sung by AEDILTHRYD Listen
Aedilthryd emerges from hiding, to challenge Nicole, who she feels has cheated her out of her man.

35. Birmingham Finale - sung by CHOIR Listen
The Choir sings of Berminghame's future, the city and the finale of the Birmingham chorus.



THE CURTAIN CLOSES




THE END

Contact us

If you would like to sing, play an instrument or contribute to an Audio Version of 'Peter de Bermingham' The Musical or for general enquiries email - info@robertsalisbury.com

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Robert is always on the lookout for all sorts of artists for supporting audio productions – actors, singers, directors, producers, illustrators, musical arrangers and much more. If you'd like to bring your enthusiasm, passion and/or ideas to Robert Salisbury's audio productions, send an email and a dialogue can be started for future productions.






Finally, the Real - Peter de Berminghame


Peter de Berminghame started a Market on his manor - [valued at 1 pound - ref. Domesday Book] - and turned it into Medieval England's busiest market place. His family owned the town for 500 years. Today their tombs lie in St. Martins Church, Birmingham. This musical commemorates his life and legacy!

The musical incorporates real people from history within an artisitic interpretation of possible accounts of Peter's life. It is meant to be a story of inspiration, rather than a literal historical account.

Robert Salisbury


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