Wendy's World - The Musical in development

Aim

We are raising funds to put into development a new musical about the life of one truly inspirational and special woman, Wendy Watson MBE.

Wendy's World - The Musical 

What do we want to fundraise for?

Thank you for stopping by. It’s important to us and we’re guessing that if you’ve found our page, you’re either a fellow thespian and love musicals, theatre or the arts, or you or a family member or loved one has been affected by breast cancer, cervical cancer, or other cancers, and raising awareness of cancer is important to you. However you’ve found us, we are very grateful that you have.

We are raising funds to start the development of a new musical theatre production about the life of one truly inspirational and special woman, and to support the first stages of making the musical entitled Wendy's World. 

Wendy's World is a new musical theatre production that tells the powerful yet hilarious tale of a seemingly typical housewife and mother from the North of England, who embarks on a lifelong campaign to make legal and lasting change for millions of women and families surrounding the genetic testing and treatment of hereditary breast cancer. (more on Wendy below)

Over 5-6 weeks in Autumn 2024, we will go into the studio with the script, the composer, director, choreographer, musical director, producer and cast, and we will rehearse and work the script and songs so that we have something brilliant to present in a showcase to theatre producers, programmers, potential investors and sponsors so that we can then lift this musical into full production later in 2025. Yes - Musicals really do take that long to make! Whilst we won't have a full production by Christmas, we will have a really good piece of work to share and show - and if you support us, you will be one of the first to see what we make and forever part of the making of this work!

At the end of this phase, we will then work with programmers, investors and producers to make a full production and UK wide tour - imagine how many lives collectively we could save and educate families about the breast cancer gene. 

We are working this way - fundraising - as musicals can be very costly indeed to produce, and so we need to break the work up and fundraise in stages. These stages are research and development, investment, full production and then performance and tour. 

As a Sheffield based and northern team working outside of London, we need your support to get this brilliant story off the ground. We believe that we have the next 'Jamie' or 'Calendar Girls' on our hands.

Along the way - we will be engaging with numerous community groups and charities to gain support and momentum for this new work. We already have a host of people who know about and are supporting this musical to happen, some even famous names, but we need your help to make the dream a reality, to bring this amazing story to life. Below is a short video from the writer Karen Restaino.

The woman behind the story - Wendy Watson, the musical inspiration!

Wendy Watson MBE has single headedly along with support from her family and supporters, changed the way our health system manages families who have a history of breast and ovarian cancer. As a direct result of decades of Wendy’s advocacy and campaigning, individuals can now be tested for the BRAC1 gene, and if they test positive for the gene, now have preventative treatment and options available. 

Wendy has spent her whole life fighting for the rights of people who suspects that breast cancer runs in their family, and who thanks to her, can now be tested and know for sure and go on to get preventative treatment. 

Her activism and campaigning saved her own life - when she was the first woman in the UK to opt for preventative double mastectomy, and then later that of her daughter Becky, when she did the same. Wendy's tireless campaigning has saved thousands more lives since then and will continue to do so. This woman is special and we think this musical is a fantastic way to celebrate her achievements and give thanks. 

Here is Wendy, talking about her work and the musical 

Wendy receiving her MBE 

You will find more information on and about Wendy via the QR code

From breast cancer to musicals? The cause continues.

We know that economically the world is challenging place right now, but we also know though that culture is important, and that the arts and the experience of theatre have so many positive benefits to individuals and communities’ health and wellbeing, and we know that this musical will bring so much joy to so many people, the way that its written is good fun and it promises to be a fantastic night out. 

The creation of the musical narrates a piece of history, and serves as a thank you to one woman who has dedicated years of her life to the breast cancer community and its supporters for her tireless work, and the work she continues to do in running a national charity helpline.

This musical aims to connect cancer communities, charities and individuals together – those who have lost loved ones, those who are going through treatment having been diagnosed with cancer, those being tested for the gene and or for breast cancer, or those have been through and come out the other side from breast cancer, and those effected by all other types of cancer. If you are community, then this musical is also for you. 

We know that being a gene carrier also brings with it a complexities, and through our work we aim to connect all as one and to come together in one wonderfully powerful night. We have big plans for pre and post show events, partnerships and collaborations with the NHS, medical professionals, community groups, charities and local people. 

Perhaps though, our largest and most important audience is the people who haven’t yet heard of the BRAC gene, and don’t know that they may have it run in their families, that haven’t connected the dots. Wendy has a personal mission to tell people about the gene and this life saving test. This musical will raise awareness of the gene and the importance of checking properly and regularly for breast cancer. 

We know that this is such a serious matter, but, we can promise you, the musical is far from serious, Its hilarious and so much fun. Wendy’s stories and antics represented in such a way that you can’t but not enjoy while supporting a good cause!

Why are we doing this?

Our vision:

• We want to raise awareness of the genetic breast cancer gene BRAC, breast cancer genetic testing, breast awareness, breast cancer prevention, treatment and support in the hope to save UK lives through increasing awareness and knowledge.
• We aim to get this heartfelt musical story up and onto the stage for viewing audiences across the UK and to thank and celebrate Wendy’s amazing life!
• The musical once fully produced and on tour aims to bring the breast cancer and other cancer communities together to be in one empowering, nurturing space. (we have lots of plans for this should be get on tour)
• To work with the medical professionals, national and local charities to support women, men and families who are effected by breast cancer.

Check Your Boobs Campaign

Look out in the coming weeks for our trailer on social media which is part of our campaign, and features one of the songs from the musical written by Max Restaino entitled 'Check Your Boobs' We are grateful for everyone who supported the making of the promo - keep a look out for some familiar faces supporting this work!

The important bit to know about your money

We know that money is tight right now for so many, so we want to be clear with you about what your donation will support. We appreciate every penny.  If you donate, you will be supporting the creative team to come together for a research and develop phase over 5 weeks in Autumn 2024 to develop fully the music, script, choreography and general artistic production ready for sharing with programmers and promoters. This will support us to then generate further funding and investment to fund a full production and UK nationwide tour at a later stage.  

This first phase will help us to create high quality work that is suitable to showcase to top level promoters, producers and investors. If you donate to support us, you will be invited to watch the first sharing via live stream of the work and be some of the first ever people to see the show. 

100% of your donation will go into making the work and to pay skilled professionals to develop the vision.

There are also some rewards on offer, time spent with the creative team, sing a longs with Wendy, and even the option to have a song made for you!

What happens if you meet your target?

If we meet the current target, or go over it, it will enable us to bring in a full company of professionals to get the production ready to share. If we are lucky enough to raise way over our target then we reserve the right to go straight to a full production but will let all donors know of our plans. 

What happens if you don’t meet your target?

If we don’t get our target then the creative team would need to have a discussion about what we could make with what we have got. The important bit is that we have enough to share and showcase the musicals potential. 

How do we know you're any good?

Great question. Everyone working on this production works professionally in the theatre industry and has done for over 20 years each or there abouts. Some of the creatives have worked on the West End and Broadway, and have worked on an international level. Names within music who our composers and musical directors have worked with include Steps, Gary Barlow - which might explain why the songs are sooooo good!

There is more information below on the team involved, and a full description of the musical - look out for our 'Check Your Boobs' song fundraiser in the coming days and weeks, in the meantime, thank you for reading and if you donate to support, we are incredibly grateful. 

Thank you, 

Wendy's World Team 

The creative team/MR PROMOTIONS

The creative team are all experienced professionals with over 20 years on average each working across artforms and across scale. This research and development phase is low risk and high gains with the company working to extremely high standards.

Writer - Karen Restaino 

As a carrier of the BRCA1 gene fault, Karen Restaino was inspired to write the musical as a tribute to the work and achievements of Wendy Watson. 

Composed by/Co Musical Director Massimo (Max) Restaino

Musical Director – James Jayawardena

Producer - Louise Wildish

MR PROMOTIONS LTD, are a hard-working and dynamic mother and son writing and composing duo. Over the past ten years the company has teamed up with many top brands and names in the entertainment industry and continue to gain momentum. For this project they have teamed up with world-class composer and musical director James Jayawardena who has worked in the industry and on musicals for over 20 years with numerous productions on the West End and Broadway., and producer Louise Wildish who has an extensive 30 years experience of producing theatre, dance, film and visual arts productions both in the UK and overseas. The creative team is very experienced to deliver this work safety, professionally and with high quality. Other creatives are standing by should this work be successful, including a director who is currently working in the West End and Broadway, and an equally experienced choreographer – names can’t be released until contracted via agents funding dependent. 

Wendy’s World The Musical 

Wendy's World is a new musical theatre production that tells the powerful yet hilarious tale of a seemingly typical housewife and mother from the North of England, who embarks on a lifelong campaign to make legal and lasting change for millions of women and families surrounding the genetic testing and treatment of hereditary breast cancer.

Wendy Watson MBE, a name synonymous with courage and pioneering spirit in the fight against hereditary breast cancer, has inspired countless individuals with her decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy three decades ago. Her story is not just one of survival but one of action, entrepreneurialism, and campaigning, leading to a change in the law that has, and continues to, empower families to have access to preventative options and treatment for breast cancer. She also founded and continues to manage the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline supporting thousands of women nationwide. 

Wendy's World the musical, seeks to honour her lifelong fight blending the personal with the universal, the poignant with the uplifting, Audiences go on an autobiographical journey and experience the at times hilarious, and downright unbelievable situations and events that is Wendy’s World. With support from Princess Diana, impromptu duets with Alfie Boe, appearances on The Big Breakfast, a whirlwind of celebrity, the selling of the family home, and friendships and loss, this musical explores the lengths and depths that one woman and her family were willing to go through to make a difference. 

With 97% of people who carry the breast cancer gene fault unaware, and 1 in 501 people carrying the gene, this musical does more that create a great night out! It aims to raise awareness of genetic testing, breast cancer prevention and ultimately save lives. Aside from the captivating songs, this work aims to bring together a community of people affected by breast cancer, cervical cancer and cancer in general, yet offers a lighter side, moments of joy and laughter, and a positivity in dealing with adversity. This feel-good musical will to get you singing in the isles, while checking your boobs on your way home!

Awarded MBE and Tesco Mum Of The Year 2011, there's no one quite like Wendy Watson.

www.wendysworldonline.com 

This project successfully funded on 13th May 2024