Lynn and Martin really do Strike It Lucky

THE inspiration behind the successful Castaway Theatre Group in Yeovil is already planning on taking her entire troupe to watch her self-written musical drama when it goes on stage – although ‘where’ and ‘when’ are yet to be known.

Strike It Lucky, which was performed by the Castaway group back in 2011, was Lynn Lee Brown’s first stab at writing a musical and is delighted that she herself has now seemingly struck it lucky.

With the support of experienced composer Martin Emslie, who wrote the music for the show, the pair have just signed a deal with a publishing company which could see their work performed by groups across the world.

“I’ve already said that I will take all of the Castaways to go and watch the show on its opening night – wherever it is performed ,” said Lynn, who is pictured (above, centre) with members of the Castaway Theatre Group.

“The coach is already booked, although we might have a problem if it is abroad,” she joked.

Lynn said she was over the moon that her story about two families from very different backgrounds with various emotional issues had been so well received when the Castaway group took it to the stage at the Swan Theatre in Yeovil back in the summer of 2011.

Martin and Lynn had been pleased with their hard efforts and had written to nearly 40 publishers about coming to watch the show at the Swan. They heard nothing from many, while others gave a polite ‘thanks, but no thanks.’

PHOTO: Lynn Lee Brown and Martin Emslie with a copy of their contract for Strike It Lucky.

But then they struck lucky with Matthew Mills, of Wild Woods Music Publishing, who decided he would travel down from Maidstone in Kent to watch the show.

Martin said: “He got held up on the way and only managed to catch the second-half of the matinee performance, but he stayed on to watch the full show that night. He was hooked straight away.”

Lynn said it would not have been a success had it not been for the members of Castaway – the group she helped to form in 2005 initially as a way to raise funds for St Margaret’s Hospice – who brought Strike it Lucky to life on stage.

“They should all feel very proud to be a part of this,” she said.

Strike it Lucky could now one day be performed at any theatre - large or small - around the world, or it could become a blockbuster movie; the possibilities are endless.

But Lynn is keeping her feet firmly on the ground. “I’d love to see Strike it Lucky performed at the Octagon in Yeovil,” she said.

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