Yarico - a new musical at the London Theatre Workshop

Producers John and Jodie Kidd will bring Yarico, a new musical based on a true story, to the London Theatre Workshop in Fulham, west London from 17 February 2015 to 14 March, with an official opening on 19 February 2015.

The project has been a 10-year labour of love for producers John Kidd and his daughter Jodie, the model and UK TV presenter, who both have strong connections to Barbados, where they have a family home. In a move to bring this forgotten story to a modern audience, John and Jodie have commissioned the musical which is based on the known facts of the original story.

"Yarico, an Amerindian beauty, is a young woman with great dreams and a fierce, independent spirit. When Inkle, the third son of a British merchant is shipwrecked on her island, he faces certain death at the hands of the islanders. In a courageous act, Yarico intervenes and saves him from his fate, marking the beginning of an extraordinary love story, which ultimately takes them to the island of Barbados."

Yarico features music by James McConnell, lyrics by Paul Leigh and a book by Carl Miller. It is based on the story of Yarico which was first recorded by Richard Ligon in his book 'True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados' published in 1657. The story fired the world's imagination and contributed to a social movement against the slave trade.

Produced by Yarico Productions, with general management from Crow and Elk, full cast and creative are yet to be announced. The London Theatre Workshop is described as a 'boutique' fringe theatre in Fulham, above the Eel Brook Pub under the artistic direction of Ray Rackham.

James McConnell (Music) won the 1987 Vivian Ellis Prize for young writers for the musical stage for his first musical, 'Orlando'. Since then he has written musicals including 'Killing Rasputin', 'The Canterville Ghost', 'Inkle and Yarico in Concert' and 'Doctor Livingstone, I Presume . . .'

Paul Leigh (Lyrics) studied under Stephen Sondheim in Oxford in 1990. His other work includes 'Moll Flanders' with George Stiles, 'Tom Jones' and 'The Three Musketeers'. Carl Miller (Book) adapted Erich Kästner's 'Emil and the Detectives' for the National Theatre last Christmas.