The dead will dance with the living...

The Ripper's 5

A new musical by Karlton Parris and Louisa Jay

An innovative new musical exploring the infamous legend of Jack the Ripper through one man's obsession with his identity, will appear for the first time on the London Fringe this September.

The Ripper’s 5 tells the haunting story of Edgar, Queen Victoria’s grandson - a man who will do anything to discover who Jack the Ripper was and is desperate to talk to the only people who can really know; the Ripper’s five victims .

Edgar employs the psychic abilities of his carnival lover, The Purist, to call the women from beyond the grave on the fifth anniversary of the death of the Ripper’s final victim, Mary Kelly.

Edgar calls for the assistance of his closest friend The Apprentice, and his two gentleman consorts, Merlin and Malachi. These men of privilege and breeding gather at the Ten Bells Inn , at the heart of the East end district where the murders took place, and eventually succeed in bringing the women back from the dead. As the story unfolds, the women expose the true depths of their emotional plight under the leadership of the Ripper’s third victim Lizzie Stride, and Edgar’s true situation and intent is revealed. Edgar’s descent in to madness through his obsession with the Ripper’s identity is echoed by that of his mother, Princess Alice May who becomes convinced it is in fact her husband who is the Ripper.

The 2010 production will premiere at Theatro Technis, Camden, in September. It is a reworking of the original show which first appeared on the New York Fringe in 2007. Director, Karlton Parris and composer, Luisa Jay have created eight new musical numbers for the London premiere in addition to re-worked versions of the twelve songs already featured in the original version. The story has also been developed to include reference to the royal conspiracy theories which became rife following the murders, through the introduction of three new characters – Queen Victoria, Princess Alice May and Anne Crook.

Writer and director, Karlton Parris, is the founder of Skint Productions, one of Manchester’s most renowned small theatre companies producing innovative new work. Karlton has been developing The Ripper’s 5 since he originally came up with the idea five years ago.

He said: “I wanted to find a new slant on the Ripper legend, with a stronger leaning towards the women. So often they are portrayed as nothing other than victims. Through The Ripper’s 5, Louisa and I have aimed to give these women a voice; to remind the audience of the human cost behind the folklore and give the five women their say through music.”

Tuesday 21 September to Saturday 16 October at 7.30pm, and at 2.30pm on Tuesdays and Sundays. The Tuesday matinee will be specifically aimed at schools and other groups, with special rates available.

Tickets are priced £15 (£12 concessions)