“Fantastic… Amazing… Brilliant”

BBC Radio London

Thirteen Days

In October 1962, President John F. Kennedy uncovered Soviet missiles on the island of Cuba. The days that followed were the closest the world has ever come to being wiped out by nuclear war. This powerful musical follows the lives of three lovers, three leaders and three nations during this critical period, by means of a memorable score that fuses Western, Eastern and Latin musical styles.

The musical premiered as a concert spectacular in Sheffield, and was subsequently staged at the Arcola Theatre, London, the latter production forming the subject of a prime-time BBC Radio 4 programme. Several of the show’s songs have gone on to be performed, recorded and released by leading musical theatre artists including Adam Bayjou, Dean Collinson, Kevin Koehler, Jamma Lee-James and Oliver Tompsett.

CRITICAL RESPONSE

“What Bermange manages to capture beautifully, and what makes this musical so successful, is that this isn’t just a dry recounting of history and fact - the songs for both Kennedy and Khrushchev humanise both of the leaders excellently, and adding in crowd pieces gives a wonderful snapshot of public perception during these tense times… The songs are excellent, the themes carried through beautifully as the tension rises, and there are some stand-out crowd numbers, including the wonderful second-act opener This Could Be the Week and the more upbeat Another Day in Havana. The duets and three-part harmonies between the romantic leads are hauntingly successful, as are the torch songs… This is a piece screaming for a full-scale production… Bermange’s musical skills are undeniable.” - One Stop Arts

“Excellent… leaves you humming some lovely tunes, and moreover is fully thought-provoking… One wishes for a wider audience for musicals that are written with so much sensitivity” - Musicals Online

“The stirring balladry that comes out of songs like Anyone But You and More Than A Memory feels ready to take up residence on a West End stage, as does the storming Act One finale – the mark of many a good musical past… One can well imagine a future for this musical.” - The Public Reviews