My favourite real story about Richard Whittington is that on the day of his funeral, he had instructed his executors to give a gold penny to every person they saw on the street that day.

When I first began researching him, I was perplexed that a man who died before the invention of the printing press was a more dedicated public servant than many we see today. He was respected so much by the public and powers of the time that he became a folk hero.

And as a boy who came to London from a rural village- an outsider in all ways to the city- I think his life has the potential to tell an incredibly important story about community and what we owe to it.

Whittington’s legacy is still alive and well in London, from the Guildhall to Leadenhall Market, St Bartholomew’s Hospital to the Thames itself. He is as alive in the city today as he ever was.

I am the composer and librettist for Whittington, and in its first production, I also produced and designed the show. However, my energies are now very much focused on the telling of the story through the music and words.

I am currently in a development stage and am hoping to put workshops together in 2026 to test and develop ideas further. Please get in touch with me if you’re interested in supporting the show’s journey!