Description
'Drake's Dream' is a musical biography of the 16th century Sea Captain and Navigator Sir Francis Drake featuring music and lyrics by Lynne and Richard Riley and book by Simon Brett. The London Cast Recording starring Paul Jones as Sir Francis Drake, now makes its debut on CD, digitally remastered from the master tapes.
The story encompasses Drake's historic circum navigation of the world culminating in his return to England in 1580. The production premiered at Worthing's Connaught Theatre on October 26th 1977 directed by Nicolas Young before transferring to London's Shaftesbury Theatre for a limited season opening on December 7th 1977, starring Paul Jones as Sir Francis Drake alongside David Burt as Thomas Doughty, Earl Jordan as The King Of Ternate, Caro Gurney as Queen Elizabeth I and Janet Shaw as Mary Drake. Reviews were mixed with many critics questioning whether it was a rock musical or a pantomime. Noted playwright and director Ken Hill was recruited to revise the production for a subsequent transfer to the Westminster Theatre in February 1978.
Prior to the show opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 1978, the 'Drake's Dream' Original London Cast Album was recorded by President Records.