The musical is set in December 2019, and is based around the Butterworth Care Home for the elderly, situated in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. We follow the lives of three main characters: Morag and Betty (residents), and Bernie (carer). When Morag and Betty meet for the first time, they strike up a friendship. But that soon changes, when Betty reveals a painful event from her past, involving Morag’s late husband Stanley. Morag is left angry and confused. But when Stanley visits her in a dream, things start to become a lot clearer. Morag and Betty sneak out of the care home to visit Stanley’s grave on his birthday. But they get more than they bargained for, when Stanley and some of his deceased friends in the cemetery, decide to have a birthday party, and Morag and Betty are most definitely welcome.
All the residents love staff nurse Bernie. She’s very kind and helpful to the residents, and fellow staff. However, her own life is far from happy. Lurking in the background, is her violent, abusive husband Ralph. Bernie has left him and wants a divorce, but Ralph has other ideas, and he’ll do anything to get Bernie back. One night while fuelled with drink and drugs, he breaks into the care home, and confronts Bernie with a knife. There’s a dramatic turn of events, when Ralph starts to rape Bernie, stabbing her in the process. Colonel Bob and Cyril, two of the residents, come to Bernie’s rescue. Everyone is on edge, as the paramedics desperately try to save Bernie’s life.
LISTEN TO THE SONGS ON YOUTUBE
MUSICAL NUMBERS
1.The Butterworth Care Home: Carers/Residents
2.Brexit Will Happen Finally: Brexiteers/Remainers
3.Waiting To Die: Morag/The Spirits
4.Stanley Withersall: Young Stanley/Young Morag/Morag
5.The Crazy Gang: Colonel Bob/Cyril/Queenie/Morag/Betty
6.Escaping: Bernie
7.Bingo: Residents/Carers
8.Have You Ever: Jaffa/Residents/Carers
9.I Remember: Betty/Young Betty/The Spirits
10.Stanley’s Alright: The Spirits/Morag/Young Morag/Betty/Young Betty/Mickey Barker
11.There’s No One Else: Ralph
12.The Cemetery Looks Wonderful Tonight: Morag/Betty
13.Stanley’s Birthday: The Spirits/Stanley
14.We’re Having A Party: The Spirits/Stanley/Morag/Betty
15.Age Is Just A Number: The Spirits/Stanley/Morag/Betty
16.I’m Happy To Be Stuck With Me: Mickey Barker
17.Is It A Dream Or Real: The Spirits/Stanley/Morag/Betty
18.The Party’s Over: The Spirits/Stanley
19.Don’t Go: Residents/Carers/The Spirits
20.Heal Your Life: The Church Choir/A Recording
21.On The Other Side: Morag/Betty/Colonel Bob/Cyril/Queenie
22.Rise Behold: The Church Congregation
23.Hold On To Life: Session Singer
CAST
MORAG: Resident, dementia 88
YOUNG MORAG: 20’s
STANLEY: Morag’s late husband 85
YOUNG STANLEY: 20’s
BETTY: Resident, uses zimmer frame, dementia 80’s
YOUNG BETTY: 40’s
COLONEL BOB: Resident, still thinks he’s in the army 80’s
QUEENIE: Resident, ex model, talks posh, well groomed 80’s
CYRIL: Resident, quiet, tourette syndrome, says ‘Oh crikey, get lost’ after every sentence 80’s
BERNIE: Female staff nurse, suffering domestic violence 40’s
RALPH: Bernie’s husband, angry, violent when drunk 40’s
MRS SHIVERS: Carer 40’s
TED MOLE: Carer 50’s
JAFFA: Male, Senior Carer 60’s
MICKEY BARKER: Deceased 30’s
MRS ROBINSON: Deceased 70’s
THE SPIRITS: A mixture of men, women and children, all ages
SPIRIT 1: Deceased, male 70’s
SPIRIT 2: Deceased, female 60’s
SPIRIT 3: Deceased, male/female 50’s
DEBRA TRAVIS: Vicar 40’s
CHURCH CONGREGATION: A mixture of men, women and children, all ages
SAMMY: Bernie’s best friend, emotional 40’s
BREXITEERS: A mixture of men and women all ages, dressed in Union Jack suits, waving Union Jack flags
REMAINERS: A mixture of men and women all ages, dressed in EU suits, waving EU flags
Escaping the Musical (The Original Script) Is Available in Paperback and Download:
UK: Amazon.co.uk
USA: Amazon.com