Madrid, Nov 20 (EFE).- Ken Follett, British author of ‘The Pillars of the Earth’, attended the world premiere of the musical inspired by his best-selling novel in Madrid on Tuesday night.
«It’s a big moment for me. It is such a testimony to the story I wrote that it can be transformed like this into a completely different medium but it is still my story,» Follett said after the show.
«My heart is touched,» he added.
The musical, produced by Dario Regattieri (‘The doctor’, ‘The time in between’, ‘Never-ending story’ musicals) with a budget of 4.5 million euros, will open at Madrid’s EDP Gran Vía Theatre on Wednesday.
«Everybody who has seen it seems to love it. People love this the way they love my books,» said Follett, adding that he is delighted that his work has been turned into a Spanish musical production.
‘The Pillars of the Earth’, which has sold more than 50 million copies, tells the story of the construction of a medieval cathedral in the town of Kingsbridge.
«We have worked so that this adaptation is not only a show, but a journey through time,» said Regattieri, who explained that the combination of music, costumes, and scenery will transport the audience to the 12th century in a way that has never been seen before.
«This project is a demonstration of our commitment to quality theater and to the creation of shows that excite and surprise,» Regattieri added.
The show features music by Iván Macías. «Every note that comes out of the score itself, comes out of the emotion of the story itself. Justice, love, and passion form part of the composition,» said Macías.
«The show has a cinematic rhythm,» said Felix Amador, who wrote the lyrics. Amador revealed that the secret was to focus on emotions and to tell stories within the story itself to accommodate all the characters.
Throughout the show, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are used to turn the theater into a giant stage and put the audience at the center of the action.
«We have broken the fourth wall, transforming the theater into a big stage. We want the audience to be part of the story,» said Regattieri.
A total of 27 actors and seven live musicians make up the show’s cast.
A team of more than 70 people is expected to work on the production, including the actors, the artistic team, special effects specialists, and fencing experts who will choreograph the fight scenes.EFE
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