British Youth Music Theatre on the clock at Z-arts

British Youth Music Theatre - the largest commissioners of new musicals in the UK, with past members including Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith - brings the premiere of futuristic musical adventure The Clockmaker's City to Manchester's Z-arts this summer (July 31-August 2).

Featuring 38 young performers and musicians from across the region, the show is set in a perfectly ordered metropolis, where time and productivity are controlled by a single clock - until it grinds to a halt.

The show has been created by Jonathan Ainscough and Yshani Perinpanayagam. Manchester-based writer and co-lyricist Jonathan trained at the Royal Northern College of Music and has since worked with companies including the Royal Opera, English National Opera and Streetwise. Composer Yshani is also a conductor and pianist, whose recent collaborations include award-winning West End shows.

They said: “The Clockmaker’s City asks the human cost of a world measured by the value of output and productivity; when individual needs and preferences are so often in opposition, how can a society work for everyone?"

The Clockmaker's City creative team: l-r Jonathan Ainscough, Yshani Perinpanayagam, Amy Hsu and Paul Smethurst

Emily Gray, BYMT Creative Director, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Yshani and Jonathan and returning to Manchester. When we first took the idea of The Clockmaker’s City to our young company panel, they were immediately intrigued, and leapt at the chance to explore the concept of controlling and changing time.

"The world of this show is enchanting and we have a brilliant team of young people and creative professionals ready to bring it to life through exhilarating storytelling, movement and music.”

The Clockmaker’s City is one of six BYMT premieres this year. Since 2003, the organisation has commissioned and produced over 140 new music theatre shows and trained over 20,000 young people - with alumni including not only Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, but also Lauren Samuels, Charlotte Ritchie, Dean Johnson, Grace Mouat, Lucy Griffiths, Luke Sheppard, and Bradley Jaden.

More info and tickets here