written & devised by Rhiannon Drake
ft. the poetry of Byron & Shelley and music by Beethoven & Schubert

The Year Without A Summer
a new musical
Based on real events...
The year is 1816. The eruption of Mount Tambora has caused widespread climate change & famine. Amidst the devastation, a gang of England's greatest writers create their masterpieces...
An actor-musician show, following the lives of several much-loved 19th century writers & characters.
Contemporary themes & sounds collide with the world of the Romantics.
A blend of original musical theatre songs (composed by Rhiannon Drake), contemporary, loop-based tunes & well-known 1816 compositions by Beethoven & Schubert.
Recorded in 2017 at
Transformer Studios, London.
Composed & devised by
Rhiannon Drake.
Produced by Andrea Adriano.
Performers listed below.
the plot
the plot
the concept
the music
the demo
musical highlights
best enjoyed through headphones
10 minute taster of entire show
loving you
goldner schein
goldner schein reprise
in it for the chase
hymn to intellectual beauty
darkness
waking dream
mad & bad & dangerous to know
so we'll go no more a roving
young, brilliant & handsome
for the rest of the music & song context, please see below
The Lobby Loungers (Opening) - Byron, Polidori, Susan, Annabella & Ensemble
Goldner Schein - Madame Durrell, Byron, Polidori & Ensemble
Goldner Schein Reprise - Polidori & Harriet
Villa Diodati - Byron, Percy & Mary Shelley, Polidori & Claire Clairmont
Loving You - Susan, Annabella & Harriet
Mad & Bad & Dangerous To Know - Byron, Claire & Ensemble Women
What A Beautiful Sunset - Ensemble, J.M.W. Turner & Susan
Hymn To Intellectual Beauty - Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley, Claire Clairmont & Ensemble
Hymn To Intellectual Beauty Reprise - Ensemble Women & Harriet
Ghost Story - Byron, Percy & Mary Shelley, Claire & Polidori
Waking Dream - Mary & Ensemble
Snow In June - Ensemble
Young, Brilliant & Handsome - Madame Durrell, Harriet & the Ensemble
Darkness - Byron
In It For The Chase - Harriet
So We'll Go No More A Roving - Byron, Percy & Mary Shelley, Polidori & Claire Clairmont
Fare Thee Well - Harriet, Byron, Polidori, Percy & Mary Shelley, Claire Clairmont and the Vicar