the lost musical works of willy shakes

 The Lost Musical Works of Willy Shakes is a riotous new musical comedy by Guy Hughes and Joe Leather, presented by The Lost Works. It's 1616 and despite all his success, William Shakespeare is terrified: not of the bubonic plague, but of being forgotten through time. Even his muse, the Fair Youth, fails to raise his spirits... but when news arrives of a last-minute performance for King James, Willy decides this is the perfect opportunity to spice up his best-known works with the one crucial missing ingredient: show-stopping musical numbers. With dazzling dance-breaks, sizzling saxophone solos and even a Hamilton-esque rap, they are ready to showcase their work before the King. But the night before this premier, Willy tragically dies after a bender with Ben Johnson; his extraordinary musical works never make it to performance and are lost through time... until now.

The show was first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019 at the Assembly Front Room. It secured 5-stars from Broadway Baby (“Formidable…Raucous”), 5-stars from ThreeWeeks (“Madcap collision of musical and Shakespearean theatre”), as well as numerous 4-star reviews including from The Gay Times, UK Theatre Network and The Telegraph, who also included the show in their ‘Top 20 shows to see at the Fringe 2019’.

Have a listen to some of Willy Shakes ‘Lost Musical Works’, including Gimme That Crown! from Richard III, and Fighting for the Throne, a rap substitute for all the history plays!