Rebecca Trehearn and Jon Robyns Discuss New Musical Theatre Album!

Following a target-smashing Kickstarter campaign this October, Iris Theatre's Xmas Factor All Stars album drops this Friday, just in time for the festive season.

Featuring performances by Olivier Award-winner Rebecca Trehearn, Jon Robyns, Tori Allen-Martin, the Italia Conti School Choir and many more, the album is packed full of music by selected winners and runners-up of Iris Theatre's Xmas Factor from 2013-16.

In anticipation of the album's release at the company's Xmas Factor: All Stars concert on Friday, today Iris has also pre-released "The Little Match Girl" by Darren Clark, sung by Rebecca Trehearn, to listen to exclusively on Soundcloud and through Iris' blog (iristheatre.wordpress.com).

Rebecca Trehearn said: "I first met Darren whilst working on his musical The Wicker Husband and fell in love with his music. I consider him an incredibly exciting talent who's work truly deserves a wider platform. This is such a tough industry to gain a foothold in and supporting new writing is something I feel very strongly about, so I'm delighted to be recording this song!"

Xmas Factor is Iris Theatre's annual showcase of the very best new musical theatre, around the theme of Christmas. Writers are invited to send in a song which is selected by the programming team to continue in the competition, culminating in a Panel Award and Audience Award at the concert. This year's event, All Stars, features the best of those finalists from across the last four years, including winners and runners up of the two awards - all of which feature on the album.

A number of writers are showcased on the recording, including Xmas Factor alumni Darren Clark (lyrics for Fantastic Mr Fox, music & lyrics for The Wicker Husband) and Luke Bateman (Mr Popper's Penguins, The Little Beasts). Songs cover an eclectic mix of themes from Korean festivities in "Christmas in Pyongyang" to the best Yuletide movies in "Christmas Films Again" and the thoughts of Jesus's dad himself in "Joseph's Lullaby".

Artistic Director Dr Daniel Winder said: "I'm so excited that Iris has been able, through the generosity of nearly 100 backers, to record an album immortalising the work of these new talents. Iris was set up 10 years ago to promote the work of emerging artists, and I know that all of our writers have exciting careers ahead."

Xmas Factor producer Laura Wickham said: "We set up Xmas Factor

as a way to provide an accessible route for emerging writers to have their work heard, without the pressure of needing an entire musical ready to perform. Our alumni have gone on to contribute music or lyrics to musicals at home and abroad, and now their overwhelming talent can be heard year-round. That Jon and Rebecca agreed to join the album is just icing on the cake!"

Other writers featured on the album include Louise Ainsley, Stu Barter, Sandy Callaghan-Hooks, Richard and Carol Campbell, Julie Das, Mary Evans, Marc Folan, Adey Grummet, Ben Heneghan, Richy Hughes, Joanna Karselis, Ian Lawson, Al Muriel, Joanna Taylor and Eden Tredwell.

Their songs are sung by Robyns, Trehearn, and Allen-Martin as well as Carol Campbell, Richard Campbell, Ruby Campbell, David Fearn, Alvaro Flores, Richard Lowe, Guido Garcia Lueches, Kate Hume, Emily Jane Kerr, Annabel King, Emma Morgan, Stephen Oliver-Webb, Lucy Park, TiffanyA. Parker, Jamie Lee Pike, Nigel Richards, Philippa Rose, Emma Sewell, Oliver Stanley, Laura Wickham.

Music is performed by Michael Baxter, Candida Caldicot, Richard Campbell, Rachel Dawson, Rosalind Ford, Adam Gerber, Hannah Morgan, Maria Oguren, Tania Park, Josh Sneesby, and Liv Spence.

The album rounds off Iris Theatre's 10th anniversary year, which began with the award for Best Production for Young People (8+) for Treasure Island (2016). This summer, Iris presented Macbeth and Hansel & Gretel, and 2018's summer season will be announced soon.

CD purchasable online at https://iristheatre.ticketsolve.com/products/regular. More information: http://iristheatre.com/get-involved/mtshowcases/xmas-factor-the-album/. Digital release to follow Saturday 2nd December via iTunes.