Be Our Guest with Tom James McGrath and Amy Clare Tasker

Tom McGrath is a composer-lyricist from Tipperary, Ireland. His background is in classical and Irish folk music. He has a master’s degree in contemporary composition from Trinity College, Dublin. His musicals have been performed in the Camden Fringe, London and Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin. Tom works part-time as an NHS doctor. He is a member of the Book, Music & Lyrics workshop and Mercury Musical Developments. Amy Clair Tasker is a theatre maker and musical theatre writer. She works with her own company Pinecone Performance Lab, and with The Cockpit, where she produces the Voila! Europe Theatre Festival and the Theatre Maker artist development programme. Amy has a BA in Drama from the University of California, Irvine. She is a member of the Book, Music & Lyrics workshop, Mercury Musical Developments, and Musical Theatre Network. The Queen is Mad is a musical tragedy inspired by the true story of “Joanna la Loca.” The elder sister of Catherine of Aragon, Joanna came to inherit the throne of Castile in 1504 – but her father and husband conspired to usurp her power by claiming she was mad and locking her away. Against the brutality and fanaticism of 16th century Spain, the show charts Joanna’s quest for freedom and control of her own life. With shades of Passion and Wicked, this chamber musical fuses a contemporary classical score with a tale of power, betrayal and rage.