The Battle of Boat

A new musical from the National Youth Music Theatre
Written by Jenna Donnelly and Ethan Lewis Maltby, directed by Kate Golledge

The Battle of Boat is a courageous tale of a group of children trying to find their place in a world at war in 1916. Frustrated by their inability to join the soldiers in battle, the children decide to do whatever it takes to help in the war effort. However, they soon have to tackle their own conflict in the form of a local gang of bullies who will stop at nothing to see every plan they form fail. Heartwarming, funny, emotional and exciting, this original new musical is a true celebration of the steadfast British spirit that shone through during WW1.

Written by Jenna Donnelly and Ethan Lewis Maltby, the British music theatre duo began their writing partnership in 2010 with a commissioned piece for the opening of the Kent Youth Games. They went on to write the percussion-musical DrumChasers in 2011, narrated by Stephen Fry. With several musicals under their belt, their most recent collaboration on The Sparkle Thief completed a second run of shows in Canterbury in 2015. Separately, Donnelly has written songs for artists all over the world including the latest platinum selling album by Japanese artist Namie Amuro, whilst Maltby has composed for major sporting events including several FA Cup finals and the UEFA Europa League.

Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the award-winning National Youth MusicTheatre represents the very best in work with young people in musical theatre, leading Andrew Lloyd Webber to describe it as “the best youth music theatre in the world”.

Supported by Arts Council England