Scene Unseen is a cutting-edge new musical about identity, sexuality, and what makes us who we are. Released as a film in 2022, we're proud to present the stage premiere at JW3.
Join cabaret artist Jessica Walker as she goes on a journey of discovery about her identity, including the extraordinary secret at the heart of her Jewish heritage and the family she never knew.
Weaving a path from her emotionally complex childhood right up to her very particular wedding day, Jessica performs songs about early gender confusion, sexual assault, first love and betrayal.
Together with composer, arranger and musical director Joseph Atkins, Jessica tells a powerful, personal story with universal themes, expressed through their musical mix of humour, classicism, torch, and a touch of Eighties synth.
These performances are dedicated to Jessica's birth father, Cream lyricist Pete Brown, who died on 19 May 2023.
Trigger warnings:
- Strong language
- Description of a sexual assault - this is within a song; she doesn't act any of it out and it's not graphic in its description
Jessica Walker & Joseph Atkins
Singer-writer Jessica Walker and composer-pianist Joseph Atkins have enjoyed a rich collaboration over ten years. Their work together includes three seasons at Brits off Broadway New York, where they were critic’s pick in the New York Times on each occasion.
Their creative collaborations include All I Want is One Night, a play about Suzy Solidor for the Royal Exchange Theatre; Not Such Quiet Girls, a new play with songs for Opera North and Leeds Playhouse; Scene Unseen, a staged song cycle for ETO at Home and Royal and Derngate theatre; new musical Cabaret Macabre for British Youth Music Theatre; Dead Funny Women for Lichfield Festival, where they are associate artists.
Their forthcoming recitals include Ludlow English Song Festival, Lichfield Festival and La Solitude at Deal Festival, Nevill Holt and La Barcarolle St Omer.
Credits
Music by Joseph Atkins
Words by Jessica Walker
Directed by James Dacre
Original, thought-provoking and funny
