LONG LIVE THE POST HORN!

Rehearsed reading for a new musical by Robert Hudson and Susannah Pearse, based on the novel by Vigdis Hjorth, translated by Charlotte Barslund

If Norway’s so perfect, how come Ellinor is talking to her mug? Can it be that ever-expanding choice and national wealth aren’t what they’re cracked up to be? Could Ellinor possibly reconnect with the world by taking on the Labour Party, the government and the entire structure of international neoliberalism over the introduction of competition into the market for sub-50g postage in the Norwegian mail system? It seems unlikely, but that’s the question Vigdis Hjorth brilliantly explores in her beautiful, hilarious 2013 novel, which Robert Hudson and Susannah Pearse are developing into a thought-provoking and life-affirming new musical.

Robert and Susannah’s previous musicals together include Radio 3’s Hall of Mirrors and Radio 4’s Rossum’s Universal Robots.

Robert’s other credits include Damsel in Distress (Chichester Festival Theatre, with Jeremy Sams and songs by George and Ira Gershwin) and Magnitsky the Musical (Radio 3, with Johnny Flynn, winner of 2020 Audio Drama of the Year). His radio comedy includes Warhorses of Letters (BB Radio 4, with Marie Phillips).

Susannah’s other previous credits include Around the World in 80 Days, A Christmas Carol and Treasure Island with Kate Ferguson (all for The Octagon Theatre, Bolton), Jabberwocky with Rebecca Applin (British Youth Music Theatre), The Stationmaster with Tim Connor (Aria Entertainment), and The Emperor’s Quest with Youn Young Park (awarded a discretionary award by Musical Theatre Matters for its work developing musical theatre for young people), She also writes the music for the comedy songs on John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme (BBC Radio 4).