Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

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Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  3w, 3m, 1girl(s), 3boy(s)

Book and Lyrics by Jake Brunger
Music and Lyrics by Pippa Cleary

Based on the classic bestselling novel by Sue Townsend, this critically acclaimed West End musical brings Britain’s best-loved spotty teenager’s story to life for a new generation of theatregoers.

Image: 2015 Curve Theatre Production (Pamela Raith)

Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 3m, 1girl(s), 3boy(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

Details

Summary

Life’s pretty hard when you’re a 13¾ year-old misunderstood intellectual living in a cul-de-sac in 1981. With dysfunctional parents, ungrateful elders and a growing debt to school bully Barry Kent, Adrian Mole’s life simply couldn’t get any worse! So when luminous new girl Pandora joins Adrian’s class, things look set to change for our hapless hero. Pandora immediately captures Adrian’s heart, only for his best friend Nigel to steal hers...

Based on the classic bestselling novel by Sue Townsend, this critically acclaimed West End musical brings Britain’s best-loved spotty teenager’s story to life for a new generation of theatregoers.

History
Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical premiered at the Curve in Leicester on 17 March 2015. The show made its London debut in a new production at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark on 26 July 2017. That production transferred to the Ambassadors Theatre, officially making its West End debut on 15 June 2019.
Keywords
ADRIAN MOLE – 13¾ 
PAULINE MOLE – Adrian’s Mum 
GEORGE MOLE – Adrian’s Dad 
GRANDMA MOLE 
NIGEL HETHERINGTON – Adrian’s best friend 
PANDORA BRAITHWAITE – a bright young thing 
BARRY KENT – the school bully 
MR LUCAS – from next door 
MR SCRUTON – the head teacher 
MISS ELF – the Geography teacher 
BERT BAXTER – an 89-year-old man 
DOREEN SLATER – a redheaded harlot 
A POSTMAN 
A TRAIN INSPECTOR 
A PRIEST 
A NURSE 
GOD 
JOHN TYDEMAN FROM THE BBC 
THE DOG (a puppet) 
Other classroom kids: JENNIFER THOMSON, CRAIG THOMAS, CLAIRE NEILSON, BARBARA BOYER, PETER BROWN

The original production was performed by a company of four children and six adults with intended doubling as per below. The musical can be performed by a flexible number of cast members, however, to suit your production. 

Children: 
ADRIAN 
PANDORA / TRAIN INSPECTOR 
BARRY / DOG (PUPPETEER) / PRIEST 
NIGEL / POSTMAN 

Adults: 
PAULINE / CLAIRE NEILSON / NURSE 
GEORGE / CRAIG THOMAS 
BERT / PETER BROWN / JOHN TYDEMAN 
GRANDMA / BARBARA BOYER / GOD 
MR LUCAS / MR SCRUTON / JENNIFER THOMSON / DOCTOR 
MISS ELF / DOREEN SLATER

Licensees should make best efforts to cast the children’s roles of Adrian, Pandora, Nigel and Barry with children/teenagers as close to the real ages as possible, i.e between 13 and 14. The roles of Adrian and Nigel are in keys usually suited for boys with unbroken voices, however Barry is more flexible. If licensees are unable to cast children in the roles, and can only cast older teens or adults, Concord Theatricals recommends that you reach out to your licensing representative to secure transposition services for your music material.

Casting Note:  
Licensees should make best efforts to cast the children’s roles of Adrian, Pandora, Nigel and Barry with children/teenagers as close to the real ages as possible, i.e between 13 and 14. The roles of Adrian and Nigel are in keys usually suited for boys with unbroken voices, however Barry is more flexible. If licensees are unable to cast children in the roles, and can only cast older teens or adults, Concord Theatricals recommends that you reach out to your licensing representative to secure transposition services for your music material.

  • Time Period 1980s
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Endearing and thoroughly enjoyable!” – Independent

“Warm and joyful energy.” – Evening Standard

“The musical precisely captures the growing pains of a self-aware Leicester boy with literary leanings.” – The Guardian

“Delightful.” – The New York Times

“A continual mood of unforced tongue-in-cheek freshness.” – The Telegraph

“Cheering good fun.” – The Telegraph

Photos

  • Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

    Image: 2015 Curve Theatre Production (Pamela Raith)

  • Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

    Image: 2015 Curve Theatre Production (Pamela Raith)

  • Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

    Image: 2015 Curve Theatre Production (Pamela Raith)

  • Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

    Image: 2015 Curve Theatre Production (Pamela Raith)

  • Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical

    Image: 2015 Curve Theatre Production (Pamela Raith)

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Music

Music Samples

Act I

1. “Another Year” – Company
1a. Classroom Capers – Orchestra
2. “Look At That Girl” – Company
2a. Scruton Through To – Orchestra
3. “Intellectual Boy” – Adrian, Ensemble
3a. Intellectual Boy Playoff – Orchestra
3b. Difficult Day – Orchestra
4. “Begging You For More” – Mr Lucas, Pauline
4a. Good Samaritans – Orchestra
5. “Barry’s Threat/You Are A Rose” – Barry, Adrian
6. “Perfect Mother” – Pauline
6a. Perfect Mother Playoff Into Home – Orchestra
7. “Misunderstood” – Company
7a. Misunderstood Playoff – Orchestra
8. “My Lost Love” – George, Pauline, Adrian
9. “Take A Stand” – Company  

Act II

9a. Opening Act Two – Orchestra
10. “A Royal Wedding” – Company
10a Bert's Dead? – Orchestra
11. “How Could You?” – Grandma, Pauline
12. “Now That I’m With You” – Adrian, Pandora
12a. Sheffield – Orchestra
12b. I Am Home – Orchestra
13. “New Best Friend” –  Doreen, Adrian
13a. New Best Friend Playout – Orchestra
13b. September 5th – Orchestra
14. “Bert’s Advice” – Bert
14a. Tonsillitis – Orchestra
15. “If You’d Lived” – Company
16. “I Miss Our Life” – Pauline, George
16a. Manger to Star! – Orchestra
16b. Rehearsal Underscore – Orchestra
17. “Intellectual Boy” (Reprise) – Adrian
18. “The Nativity” – Company
18a. Nativity Playoff – Orchestra
18b. “Reconciliation” – Adrian
19. “Finale” – Company
20. “The Calls” – Company
21. Playout – Orchestra

Keyboard-Conductor
Reed (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone)
Violin 
Guitar (Electric, Acoustic)
Drums/Percussion
Bass (Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass)
Click Tracks (Supplied as QLab file)

  • Musical Style Contemporary Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • 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!
12 Vocal Book
1 Keyboard-Conductor
1 Reed
1 Violin 
1 Guitar
1 Drums/Percussion
1 Bass 
1 Click Tracks (Supplied as QLab file)
12 Vocal Book
1 Keyboard-Conductor
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Authors

Author

Sue Townsend

Jake Brunger

Jake Brunger

Jake Brunger (book and lyrics) and Pippa Cleary (music and lyrics) met at Bristol University, where they were studying Drama and Music respectively. They have been described by The Stage newspaper as “one of the most exciting musical theatre writing teams working in the UK to ...

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Pippa Cleary

Pippa Cleary

Jake Brunger (book and lyrics) and Pippa Cleary (music and lyrics) met at Bristol University, where they were studying Drama and Music respectively. They have been described by The Stage newspaper as “one of the most exciting musical theatre writing teams working in the UK to ...

View full profile

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