Mood Music

Behind its seductive and glamorous veneer, the music industry has a dark side. Whether it’s bitter legal battles fought by the likes of George Michael, Kesha and Tulisa, or the lost lives of Amy Winehouse and Chris Cornell, the price of fame and success can be brutal.

‘The music industry isn’t about healing heartbreak and vulnerability. It’s about selling it.’

In a top London recording studio, Cat, a young songwriter, her producer Bernard, their lawyers and psychotherapists go to battle over who owns a hit song. Amidst a gathering storm of bitter complaints and recriminations Cat and Bernard inflict a devastating toll on each other.

With heartfelt thanks to the generosity of all the casts, creatives and companies involved, a selection of full length Old Vic archive recordings of selected productions since Matthew Warchus became Artistic Director in 2015 will be hosted for free on The Old Vic’s YouTube channel. This will give audiences the chance to revisit loved collector’s item productions, or watch for the first time.

The second show to air will be Mood Music, the world premiere of which played over The Old Vic’s 200th birthday in 2018. This timely play about power, passion and the price of creativity is written by Joe Penhall (Sunny Afternoon, Blue/Orange) and directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill, Enduring Love).

The production, featuring the original cast, will go live at 7pm BST on Wed 08 Jul and will be available to watch until 7pm BST Tue 14 Jul.