LYRICS AND MUSIC BY NIGEL CASSIDY
WELCOME
The Salesian Theatre Company are delighted to welcome you to the 2026 production of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The composition of the musical started a few days after the curtain closed on last year's production of Shrek The Musical. It has been a fantastic journey through researching, writing, editing, orchestrating, arranging, casting, rehearsing and fnally, the fnished product that will be performed for you this evening. Along the way, so many people have helped to realise the vision, but a particular 19th Century bow should be given to Mr Webster who gave advice on plot ideas and spent many hours editing the libretto. No lesser thanks to everybody who has helped to construct the set, make props design the lighting and sound and anything else that has enabled the creation of this fantastical Jules Verne world. Finally, a huge thank you to the Drama and Music team for their enthusiasm Strap in, and for those in the front rows, you may well get wet!
Nigel Cassidy Musical Director & Composer
Clare Heslop Director
MEGAN BURROUGHS
Nellie Land
Past productions:
Julia in 1984 (2025), Angel in Rent.
DEXTER THOMASIUS
Captain Nemo
Past productions:
The Big Bad Wolf in Shrek The Musical (2025).
JEM MORTON
Remus
Past productions:
Donkey in Shrek The Musical and offstage roles in 1984 (2025), Ralph in Our Country's Good and Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2024). Offstage roles in The 39 Steps and Zack in School Of Rock (2023) and Grandma in The Addams Family (2022).
FINLAY HUDD
Remus
Past productions:
Child/Martin in 1984 and Pinocchio in The Musical (2025), Ralph in Our Country's Good. Finn attends classes at GSA.
ISLA STACEY
Argentia
Past productions:
Fiona in Shrek The Musical and Julia in 1984 (2025) and Mary in Our Country's Good(2024).
OLIVER STUBBS
Leviathan/ensemble
Past productions:
Ensemble in Shrek The Musical and Charrington in 1984 (2025), Arscott in Our Country's Good (2024), schoolboy in School Of Rock (2023), Chorus in The Addams Family (2022)
ANNABEL REECE
Captain Farrogut/ensemble
Past productions: Fiona in Shrek The Musical and 1984 (2025), Our Country's Good (2024).
JAMES MITCHELL
Gideon Welles
Past productions: Pied Piper in Shrek The Musical and Winston in 1984 (2025), Harry in Our Country's Good and Grandpa Joe in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2024), Milkman/Sheriff in 39 Steps and Sammy in School Of Rock (2023) and chorus in The Addams Family (2022)
MATTEO DRAGO
John Torrey
Past productions: O'Brien in 1984 (2025), Our Country's Good (2024) and Ensemble in School of Rock (2023).
WILLIAM MACLEAN
Crew 3/ensemble
Past productions: Ugly Duckling/Ensemble in Shrek The Musical' (2025).
JOSH ORME
Porter/ensemble
Past productions:
Josh played Gingy in Shrek the Musical (2025) and this is his second Salesian production. Outside school, he has played Aladdin and we're looking for some of that magic tonight.
ADRIAN CUNNINGHAM
Reporter 1/ensemble
Past productions:
This is Adrian's frst appearance in a Salesian College Production.
MELVIN MBAZIIRA
Lieutenant/Ensemble
Past productions: Ensemble in Shrek the Musical (2025). He is also the main vocalist for the Rock & Pop Group.
MARK FLINT
Sailor 1/ensemble/Giant Isopod
Past productions: This is Mark's frst appearance in a Salesian College Production. Mark has been in strict physical training for his cameo as a giant isopod.
AUSTIN BARTHOLOMEW
Sailor 2/ensemble
Past productions:
Ensemble in Shrek The Musical' (2025).
ADESH WAIBA
Quartermaster/Crew 1/ensemble
Past productions:
Dwarf/Guard/Ensemble in Shrek The Musical' (2025).
HARRY HAWES
Captain Anderson/Crew2/ensemble
Past productions:
This is Harry's frst appearance in a Salesian College Production.
WILLIAM MAURIZIO-COOPER
Reporter 2/ensemble
Past productions:
This is William's frst appearance in a Salesian College Production.
JOSH HASTIE
Helmsman/ensemble
Past productions: This is Josh's frst appearance in a Salesian College Production.
WILLIAM PYM
Ensemble
Past productions:
In his previous school, William starred as The Scared viking and has run straight into his frst Salesian production.
TOM GREEN
Production Manager
Past productions: Tom has production managed The 39 Steps, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Our Countryʼs Good, Shrek and 1984. School of Rock, The Great Gatesby, Addams Family and Joseph and his Technicolor dreamcoat.
SAM YATES
Head of Lighting/Lighting Design/ Squid animation
Past productions:
The Addams Family, The Great Gatsby, School of Rock, The 39 Steps, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Our Country's Good, Shrek and 1984. Many shows outside school, but notably, Sound of Music, and Annie!
CHARLIE LEFORTE Sound
Past productions: S Sound in Shrek, 1984 (2025) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2024).
HUGO BOSHER
Lighting Technician
Past productions: Shrek , 1984, Our Country's Good and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2024).
.
MOLLY HERBERT
Joint Stage Manager
Past productions: Stage Manager in Shrek and Follow Spot in 1984 (2025).
CHARLIE TURNER
Joint Stage Manager
JAKE KELSALL
Prop Master
Past productions: Performer in Shrek (2025).
Enjoying his new role backstage!
FELIX THOMASIUS
Stage hand
Past productions: This is Felix's frst participation in a Salesian College Production.
JAMES PHIPPS
Stage Hand
Past productions: S Sound in Shrek (2025) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2024).
EDWARD YATES
Microphones
Past productions: Microphones in Shrek (2025), performer in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2024).
WILLIAM BURROUGHS
Fly Master
Past productions:
Prop master in 1984, stage hand in Addams Family, School of Rock and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
RAFA STILES
Shadow Stage Manager
Past productions: Stage Hand in Shrek (2025) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2024).
JAMES LACK
Follow Spot
Past productions: Stage hand or Follow Spot in all productions for the last fve years.
T WENTY THO LE A REDNUSEUG AESEHT
C R E A T I V E
T E A M
DIRECTORS: CLARE HESLOP NIGEL CASSIDY
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS & PRODUCERS: RUTH TOWNSEND
ABBIE TOWNSEND
ASSISTANT MUSICAL DIRECTOR: SHARON PRICE
LIGHTING DESIGN:
CHOREOGRAPHER: LAURIE-ANN
SONG DIRECTION: PROJECTIONS: SQUID ANIMATION: PRODUCTION MANAGER:
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: MATTY DRAPER
SCRIPT EDITOR: LIAM WEBSTER
BLAKE LE TOURNEAU TEAM
SET CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN: STUART BANNISTER, & THE MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL HIRE: MARKETING AND BOX
TEAM & NIGEL CASSIDY
SET CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN:
STUART BANNISTER, STEVE JAMES & THE MAINTENANCE TEAM
TECHNICAL HIRE: WHITE LIGHT
MARKETING AND BOX OFFICE: ANGELA PHIPPS
CONDUCTOR: NIGEL CASSIDY
KEYBOARD 1: ANTON GWILT
KEYBOARD 2: ATIDH SREEVALSAN
REED 1*: OISÍN MULLALLY
REED 2: MICHELLE NASH
REED 3: FR. PAT SHERLOCK
TRUMPET: TONY ADIE
FRENCH HORN: AUSSIE PEPPER
TROMBONE: BOB PRICE
VIOLIN: JO HORT
ELECTRIC GUITAR*: ARCHIE SABLES
BASS GUITAR: VIC COX
DRUMS: JON WILLS
PERCUSSION*: ETHAN BEDI
*student performer
FA FANTASTICAL ADVENTURE:
Jules Verne and
or a few years, I have weighed up the idea of writing a musical and during the rehearsals of Shrek, The Musical last year, I began looking at the way it was constructed. I simultaneously chanced upon a new Audible dramatisation of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and before it had concluded, I knew that I had found my ideal story. I went back to the original novel (in translation) and began mapping out a plot. Verne was fascinated with science, technology and the natural world. He makes the same point made by naturalists today, that we have so much to learn about marine life, particularly on the sea foor. l Took the outline of his tale and set about adapting the characters –Professor Arronax travelled with his faithful servant and this outdated character was dropped in favour of Alfred (a new character) - a New York orphan boy who follows Arronax after he shows him kindness and forgiveness. The harpooner Ned Land is an action hero in a male dominated story, and it was immediately apealling to turn Ned into Nellie and shake up the balance and interactions of the characters. Nemo and his crew remain intact on the Nautilus but gains a brother and the opportunity for a love interest - essential for a musical! As the plot unfolds, I have incorporated various locations, creatures and ideas from the book and blended them together with new characters and plot twists. I found that the libretto and songs wrote themselves once I had established the origins, intentions and personality of each character. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I have creating it.
Nigel Cassidy.
Science fction or period drama?
20,000 Leagues was frst published as a serial in 1869 and printed as a novel in 1871. It is set in the early 1860's. A lot of what was then science fction, has since become reality. Here are some extra facts to help navigate the plot:
• Alfred's parents were both Irish emigrants. They lived at the notorious 'Five Points' which was a slum area where fve roads converge. (Also the period and setting for the flm 'Gangs of New York')
• Gideon Welles and John Torrey are the actual people in their roles when the novel was written. They have been added to the story (not by Verne!)
• Abraham Lincoln had recently died and was revered by the nation, hence the name of the frigate.
• The '39 stars', were the current number of American states when the story was written and referred to by Jules Verne.
• Nellie's parents were some of the numerous Irish emigrants who settled in the Canadian Praries and worked on the land.
• A full-sized submarine had not yet been invented but Verne creates a vary plausible fction that soon becomes reality.
• Argentia is is a 'Marvel' style creation for the musical! In Verne, the crew of the Nautilus do discover Atlantis, reaching it by following Plato's instructions.
• The Nautilus is attacked by several giant squid but not one that talks...
• Captain Nemo does not have a brother in the novel. Remus is an important link between the Nautilus, Nemo and our lead characters and also brings romance, adding an extra dimension to the story.
WITH THANKS TO:
We hope you have enjoyed the production. A special vote of thanks go to a number of people who have donated time and love to the production.
To Liam Webster who helped to refne and improve ideas and who edited the script so wonderfully;
To Zoe Hinds who agreed to help run Prop Club who together made the fantastic helmets and several other props;
To Blake Le Tourneau who brought to life the giant isopod!
To the grand master of carpentry Steve James, who created the giant toblerones and many other pieces of set;
To the wonderful Stuart Bannister who painted the set and bought ideas so vividly to life;
To Sam Yates who has spent several months mastering animation and creating the mighty Leviathan!
To Darren, Martin, Mark and Barry, the maintenace maestros who have helped create several props including the ship's wheel, a life raft and numerous other ingenious things!
To Angela Phipps for tirelessly supporting and promoting the production
To the wonderful students who have put in so many hours to make the show a success.
The isopod had a hectic rehearsal schedule, but also needed to get home to fnish his schoolwork.
