What to do with Mr Kipps?

To a certain generation, Half a Sixpence and Arthur Kipps will always be associated with sixties pop idol Tommy Steele.

And that has been the problem ever since the 19-year-old teen heartthrob burst onto the silver screen in a musical version of H.G.Wells’ semi-autobiographical tale of the lad from humble origins who strikes it rich overnight.

An easily-identifiable theme – sudden fame and wealth leading to a crisis of identity – ripe surely for revivals since its first outing five decades ago? But Sixpence was created for and written around the phenomenal talents of its star. Without a star of his capabilities the show struggles.

Which is why theatrical impresario Cameron Mackintosh turned first to writer Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) to reorganise the Arthur Kipps journey through early Edwardian British society, and then to the musical team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe to add a range of new numbers for the show which opens at the Chichester Festival next week.

For lyricist Drewe and composer Stiles, Sixpence offered more chance for creativity than their recent collaboration with Mackintosh, the extremely successful re-working of the Mary Poppins story.

“That’s true,” confirmed George when it was suggested that the fact Disney’s Mary Poppins had stood the test of time far better than Sixpence gave them less room for manoeuvre when creating new songs for the show that visited Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre last month..

“Apart from Flash, Bang, Wallop, Money to Burn and Half a Sixpence, which of course remain in the musical, very few of the original songs are remembered well by the public..

“The 60’s original was very much of its time and made as a vehicle for the incredible talents of Tommy Steele. What was needed for a modern production was take the emphasis away from one central character which I hope is what we have been able to do.”

“Certainly we have been thrilled with the rehearsals both in London and here in Chichester,” added Anthony. “

George and Anthony have been writing musicals together since they met at Exeter University over thirty years ago. During that time they have written the scores for the Olivier-Award-nominated Betty Blue Eyes, Soho Cinders, and Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure.

Current projects include a new version of Wind in the Willows with Julian Fellowes that will debut at Southampton this winter. And the pair presented a new musical adaptation of Graham Greene’s Travels with my Aunt which launched this year’s Chichester festival season.

In development they have Soapdish for Broadway Musical in 2000,

Their show HONK! has been seen by more than 6 million people all over the world in over 8,000 productions in more than 20 languages.

Independently, George composed the musicals Moll Flanders, The Three Musketeers and Tom Jones.

Anthony has written lyrics for the musicals The Card and A Twist of Fate.

Their joint CV lists the making of “very nice apricot jam” as another of the duo’s accomplishments.

Rachel Kavanaugh directs Half a Sixpence at Chichester – her sixth production for the Festival – and the new version will introduce two young actors – Charlie Stemp as Arthur Kipps and Devon-Elise Johnson as Ann – alongside three times Olivier-nominated actor Ian Bartholomew as Chitterlow, three times Olivier-nominated actress Emma Williams as Helen Walsingham, and Vivien Parry as Mrs Walsingham.

2016 marks the 150th anniversary of H.G. Wells’ birth in 1866 and the 70th anniversary of his death in 1946. His novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul was based on his unhappy apprenticeship as a draper at Hyde’s Drapery Emporium in Southsea. Born in Kent, Wells spent much of his youth in West Sussex, living in Midhurst while his mother was housekeeper at Uppark (now a National Trust property).

Arthur Kipps, an orphan and over-worked draper’s assistant at the turn of the last century, unexpectedly inherits a fortune that propels him into high society. His childhood companion, Ann Pornick, watches with dismay as Arthur is made over in a new image by the beautiful and classy Helen Walsingham. Both young women undoubtedly love Arthur – but which of them should he listen to? With the help of his friends, Arthur learns that if you want to have the chance of living the right life, you need to make the right choices.

With their work on Sixpence, the duo hope to have captured the essence of the H. G. Wells’ story of a young man from humble beginnings who finds sudden fame and wealth brings challenges as much as it does earthly comforts. It is believed that Wells wrote the novel as a reflection of his own life after he rose from a simple background to world-wide fame and fortune.

“Wells was of course so ahead of his time,” said George. “His predictions for the future with The Time Machine and other works proved correct. With Kipps, The Story of a Simple Soul, he foresaw perhaps today’s Lottery winners with their instant fame and fortune. We can identify with what he is writing about because we read of so many lottery winners who blow it all.”

“I believe Wells would be happy with the new version of his story that we are telling.”

Half a Sixpence opens this week at Chichester’s Festival Theatre and runs until September 3.