A WORCESTER woman presented her dad with the surprise of a lifetime when she wrote, staged and directed a musical for his 60th birthday present.
When he arrived at Bromsgrove’s Artrix on Sunday musician Paul Edwards had no idea exactly what Jo Payne was planning.
Delayed, premiered at the School Drive venue, was inspired by one of Paul’s songs ‘Brown Haired Girl’ about two strangers who met on a railway station platform and, despite speaking different languages, had a conversation using hand gestures and an old photograph.
It also featured many of his songs, all carefully crafted together to tell a breathtaking story.
Jo, who owns The Star Project Theatre School, set up a new charitable company, ‘Quiet Gifts’, in 2016, to give young people who have never had the opportunity to do so.
National Lottery funding secured in the spring meant those young people could ‘let their quiet theatrical gifts shine’ and be part of Delayed, Quiet Gifts’ first production.
Jo wrote the piece so it reflected many aspects of Paul’s life and also the many messages he had taught her during her life.
She spent over a year putting the piece together, forming the cast and holding weekly rehearsals every Sunday.
In the programme notes Jo wrote about how, as a little girl, her bedroom was directly above the dining room where my dad would practise his guitar until late.
“I would fall asleep to the sound of him picking the guitar strings and the promise of a new song,” she wrote.
“Dad’s songs are a diary of his journey and a big chapter of mine.
“I’ll always be the first in line to support my dad’s talent or to buy his new album.
“It’s time the world knew of his music just like I know of his love.
“Happy 60th birthday Dad – I got you a musical.”
After seeing the show Paul told The Observer: “It is hard to believe that I knew nothing about this.
“I knew something was happening but this has been a complete surprise.”
He was told he was going to a private party and thought a few friends may have put on a concert for him.
“I never expected anything like this.”
He said as a child he never peeked at his presents so maybe that was how Jo kept it a secret.
“I was the kind of child who didn’t even peek at his birthday presents so maybe that’s how she kept it such a secret.
“Had Cilla still been alive, this would’ve been perfect for her (Surprise, Surprise) show.
“Jo has done such an amazing job and there were so many truisms in there.
“The story is about how our lives should be and includes things you would have liked to have happened rather than what actually did.
“She made it more of a perfect world on the stage and that is how it should be.
“The messages were so strong and that is what I am most proud of. The fact she has taken all these messages she has learnt growing up and put them on that stage.”
And he said Jo had set the bar high for daughters everywhere.
“It’s so hard to be that original and I don’t think anything like this has been done before.
“To write, stage and direct a musical for your dad’s 60th birthday gift is pretty incredible.”
