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Click HERE to read the Script, look at the Score and listen to the Songs
Darwin Rocks!
by Steve Titford
Pricing & Order Info.
Links to New National Curriculum... Science/History
Why choose this Musical?
Let the composer, Steve Titford, tell you why...
An unforgettable, light-hearted look at Charles Darwin's work
Editable Word Doc Script available. Make your own changes
55 speaking roles
Easily reduced to 32 speaking roles. Flexible Cast size to suit YOUR group numbers, from 34 actors upwards. See "Casting" tab below for full instructions.
Any number of chorus parts
CD of Backing Tracks plus essential sound effects available
No pianist required! This CD includes ALL Backing Tracks, Incidental Music and Special Effects in the order you need them enabling production and direction to take place without specialist musical expertise.
CD of Vocal Tracks available for learning the songs
Sing it! "Karaoke-Style" learning! Check out the video below...
TOP TIP: unmute the video to have a listen and a sing along!
Full Performance Piano/Vocal score (Grade 6 Standard) available
Click "Performance Score" in the "Script & Songs" tab below.
Duration: 50-60 minutes
Full Production Notes
Check out the "Production Notes" in the "Script Sample" below for full details of "Darwin Rocks!".
No Problem Props
Click "Script Sample" in the "Script & Songs" tab below for full listing.
Very easy to costume
Click "Script Sample" in the "Script & Songs" tab below for ideas.
Simple staging
Detailed in "Script Sample" below.
Links to New National Curriculum... Science/History
Age range: Key Stage 2 Production (7-11 years)
Especially engaging for your Upper Juniors (9-11 years) - a Perfect Year 6 leavers' play.
NEW! Instant Scenery with our digital backdrops
A different backdrop for EVERY scene change
Supplied in both a PowerPoint presentation and as individual JPG files.
No more Scenery Painting!
Charles Darwin
Boring?.. we don't think so!..
Favourite food: fried tortoise (yes, really!)
Favourite sport: snooker (played with Queen Victoria, another green baize addict.)
Favourite occupation: making lists (including his most famous list setting out the relative merits of dog vs.wife in companion stakes)
Favourite subject: EVOLUTION (bet you knew that one!)
With booming beats, groove-filled guitar anthems and a dubious dress-sense, a theatre company from the distant future pays tribute to history's most famous advocate of evolution in an adventure of discovery.
This story about the work of Charles Darwin informs with fun and inspires change for good.
From the writer of the hit comedy musical "Shakespeare Rocks!" comes the next step in the series' evolution.
Steve Titford reprises his acclaimed formula of creating a feel-good show for everyone whilst helping to enthuse young people about an important national curriculum subject.
The pacy script pops with good-natured humour and flamboyant characters - mixed in with seven stirring songs that burst with fresh energy.
The result is a singalong sensation - handling Darwinism carefully for thinkers from all walks of life.
School musicals have evolved: Darwin Rocks!
Prologue
The show is introduced by Evo, Lu and Chan - ambassadors from the distant future who have brought their theatre company back in time with them for our entertainment. They begin the journey by taking us to meet the hero of the hour - Charles Darwin.
Scene One: 1859 - London
Through a pounding piece of power-rock, London's citizens explain why "Darwin Rocks!"
Scene Two: 1859 - John Murray's Office In London
Charles and his wife, Emma, struggle with the effects of fame as John Murray's exuberant marketing team attempt to give the scientist a makeover for the press. Exasperated by the thought of being turned into something he isn't, Charles remarks "It's like the Fuegians all over again".
Scene Three: 1830 - A Beach On Tierra Del Fuego
The action flashes back to an island off the south coast of America. The native Fuegians celebrate their oneness with their surroundings through the tribal song "Tierra Del Fuego (Land Of Fire)". Shortly afterwards, a British ship, the HMS Beagle, makes landfall. The British and the native Fuegians attempt to barter with each other - both offering various knickknacks from their respective cultures. Eventually a trade is agreed - Captain Robert Fitzroy of the HMS Beagle gets to take a group of Fuegians to show off to the royalty in the UK while Chief Chris of the Fuegian tribe gets given some shiny buttons. Both sides are very pleased!
Scene Four: 1859 - London
Emma and Charles, somewhat deflated from the crass nature of the earlier marketing meeting, stroll through London. They reflect on their individual differences and how they serve to make their relationship evolve. Wondering how Charles's theory will affect people's differing opinions on creation around the world, the couple sing the ballad "Two Creations" and are eventually joined by some London citizens.
Scene Five: 1860 - The Oxford University Museum Hall
A dance-themed debate between scientists and traditionalists brings about an unusual pageant of our prehistoric ancestors. A chimpanzee and a Neanderthal are amongst the participants busting a move in the style of James Brown to the "Groove Of Evolution".
Scene Six: 1838 - Maer Hall
Charles is on holiday with his relatives in Staffordshire as he contemplates marrying Emma. Whilst listing his reasons for and against the idea, he is visited by his friends. Emma unexpectedly walks in on the discussion that ensues from the list and is particularly offended at being branded "better than a dog, anyhow!" Distraught, she runs off before Charles can apologise for what would be some of his most famous remarks. However, her friends think that the list shows that Charles is serious about spending the rest of his life with Emma. In a split-scene jazz pastiche called "Better Than A Dog", Emma's friends and Charles's chums try to patch up the relationship. Emma and Charles are inspired to run and search for each other. When they come together, Charles proposes to Emma, who calmly produces a paper and a pen before replying "I'll get back to you".
Scene Seven: 1882 - The Living Room In Down House, Orpington
Charles, now an old man, has seized up whilst posing for a portrait. Thankfully, his wife and children come to loosen his body up (after a few sickening cracks and creaks!) Charles fears that the only memorable portrait of him will be an ape-like caricature. However, his family reassure him through a set of comedic flashbacks that he will be most remembered for his discoveries.
Accepting that things change with time, the two children begin performing the song "Life Will Find A Way" and are joined by the chorus.
Scene Eight: 1832 - A Beach On Tierra Del Fuego
The Ambassadors from the future sum up a few of Charles Darwin's achievements before taking us back to Tierra Del Fuego. Two years have passed since the trade between the Fuegians and the British. The British have just returned to the island, this time with Charles Darwin and three of the natives originally given to Captain Robert Fitzroy. Once reunited with their leader, Chief Chris, these three Fuegians decide that the British ways taught to them will be of no use in their own habitat. They promptly discard their British clothing for their old tribal attire - much to the approval of Chief Chris, the annoyance of Captain Robert Fitzroy and the amusement of Charles Darwin!
Under the guidance of Chief Chris, the Fuegians' conclusion forms the basis of the up-tempo finale "Nothing Beats Being You".
Suggested Cast List For 59 Actors
* N.B. In the following list, the bracketed number shows the number of spoken lines each role has.
An asterisk (*) before the character's name indicates that this character ALSO has solo or featured sung lines.
| Character Name | Number of Lines |
|---|---|
| *Charles | 32 |
| *Emma | 26 |
| Lu | 26 |
| *Evo | 23 |
| Chan | 17 |
| Chief Chris | 12 |
| Old Charles | 10 |
| Fitzroy | 10 |
| Sir Brodie | 10 |
| Scientist 1 | 10 |
| Huxley | 10 |
| *Jo | 9 |
| Wilberforce | 8 |
| John | 7 |
| *Chum 3 | 7 |
| *Chum 1 | 7 |
| Fuegian 1 | 5 |
| Gene | 5 |
| Mary-Ann | 5 |
| Scientist 3 | 5 |
| Scientist 4 | 5 |
| Marion | 4 |
| *Chum 2 | 4 |
| Martens | 4 |
| McCormick | 4 |
| Scientist 2 | 4 |
| *Etty | 4 |
| *Francis | 4 |
| Jemmy | 4 |
| Fuegia | 4 |
| Merchant | 3 |
| Paper Vendor 3 | 3 |
| Mason | 3 |
| Wickham | 3 |
| Painter | 3 |
| Paper Vendor 1 | 3 |
| Fuegian 2 | 3 |
| Fuegian 5 | 3 |
| Fuegian 3 | 2 |
| Fuegian 4 | 2 |
| Fuegian 8 | 2 |
| Marketer 1 | 2 |
| Marketer 2 | 2 |
| York | 2 |
| *Friend 1 | 2 |
| Paper Vendor 2 | 2 |
| Fuegian 6 | 1 |
| Fuegian 7 | 1 |
| *Friend 2 | 1 |
| *Friend 3 | 1 |
| Marketer 3 | 1 |
| Ancestor 1 | 1 |
| Ancestor 4 | 1 |
| Homo Sapiens | 1 |
| *Friend 4 | 1 |
Non speaking roles: Practical Joker, Ancestor 2, Ancestor 3, Future Human and a chorus of London Citizens, Sailors and The Resistance.
Suggested Cast List For 34 Actors
| Character Name | Number of Lines |
|---|---|
| *Charles | 32 |
| *Emma | 26 |
| Lu | 26 |
| *Evo | 23 |
| Chan | 17 |
| Chief Chris also plays Gene | 17 |
| Marion also plays Scientist 2 and Mary-Ann | 13 |
| Huxley also plays Marketer 2 | 12 |
| Fuegian 1 also covers the lines of Fuegian 4, *Friend 3 and plays *Friend 1 | 12 |
| Sir Brodie also plays Marketer 3 | 11 |
| Old Charles also plays one of The Resistance (non sp) | 10 |
| Fitzroy | 10 |
| Scientist 1valso plays a London Citizen (non sp) | 10 |
| Wilberforce also plays Marketer 1 | 10 |
| *Jo also plays Practical Joker (which is non speaking) | 9 |
| Martens also plays *Etty | 8 |
| Mason also plays Scientist 4 | 8 |
| Fuegian 8 also plays Fuegia, *Friend 2 and covers the lines of *Friend 4 | 8 |
| John also plays Ancestor 3 (non sp) | 7 |
| McCormick also plays Painter | 7 |
| Wickham also plays *Francis and one of The Resistance (non sp) | 7 |
| *Chum 3 also plays Sailor (non sp) | 7 |
| Fuegian 2 covers the lines of Fuegian 5 and also plays Future Human | 6 |
| *Chum 1 also plays Sailor (non sp) | 6 |
| *Chum 2 also plays Sailor (non sp) | 6 |
| Merchant covers the lines of Fuegian 3 and also plays Homo Sapiens | 5 |
| Fuegian 7 also plays Jemmy Button | 5 |
| Scientist 3 also plays a London Citizen (Non sp) | 5 |
| Paper Vendor 1 also plays Ancestor 1 | 4 |
| Paper Vendor 2 also plays Ancestor 4 | 3 |
| Paper Vendor 3 also plays Ancestor 2 (non sp) | 3 |
| Fuegian 6 also plays York Minster | 2 |
Non speaking roles: Two London Citizens, who also play members of The Resistance. (Other non speaking roles are covered as listed above.)
Darwin Rocks!
"DARWIN ROCKS! After the brilliant "Shakespeare Rocks" we thought we'd never find anything to equal it but then came "Darwin Rocks"!!! A totally amazing show, once again doing for our children's acting, singing and dancing what J.K. Rowling did for their reading. Imaginative, great fun and inspiring. The children loved every minute of the preparations and performance. The parents were delighted!!! An enormous thank you to Steve Titford and Musicline for understanding how to make putting on a fabulous show so painless and enjoyable! What an end to the school year! Theresa Jane Patterson"Theresa Jane Patterson, British School of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas
Darwin Rocks!
"A fantastic end of year show, catching songs and the children loved performing it! Nothing beats being you and Tierra del Fugueo are great finale songs with great meanings. We had some great reviews and we loved every minute of putting the show together and performing it! Thank You Steve Titford and Music Line!"Sarah, Rachael and Nick , Saxilby C oF E Primary , Lincoln
Darwin Rocks!
"Being the first school to ever perform this show, we had no testimonials upon which to rely or ideas to magpie from other schools. We needn't have worried, however, as Steve Titford has created yet another amazingly captivating production. From the moment we played the first song to the children, they were hooked and strains of 'Nothing Beats Being You' and 'Tierra del Fuego' could be heard drifting down the corridors. Proof of its popularity was witnessed when the children performed their own, impromptu, jamming session of Darwin Rocks with true passion and abandon after the first performance. The jokes worked on two levels, both for children and adults (?!), meaning that every audience member fully enjoyed the show. It was easy to stage, with brilliant parts for an entire year group and the accolades we have received after the performance have been the best ever. Well done, and thank you, Steve Titford and Musicline! "Kate MacKrell and Chrissy Boulton, Binfield CE Primary School (VA), Binfield
Song Samples
Full songs also available on...
