The heartwarming Christmas musical that’s all about growth and love

Megan Hickie (known as Meg) studied musical theatre and loves the genre because of the ever-changing, shape-shifting it has gone through.

If you compare The King and I with Hamilton in terms of changes over time, you will see what I mean.

So when Meg was asked to adapt a short play she wrote and turn it into a fully formed Christmas musical at 53two, she jumped at the chance. With Ollie Mills penning the tunes, fresh from his success with Bear Left last Christmas and the germ of the idea coming from 53two’s Creative Director Simon Naylor, this was an ask that Meg could not refuse.

We caught up with the Hamilton and all things Taylor Swift fan to find out more.

Some of the characters Bump(s) have been seen on stage before, as you wrote them. What made you want to revisit them but in a musical?

It kind of came by accident, to be honest. The short play was called ‘Janine & Jessie’ which was on in May 2023 as part of Come Laugh With Us, I didn’t expect it at all but it did really well and it got some really great reviews. So I thought I’d better ride the wave. I wrote it into a full-length play and I did a couple of read-throughs with some very kind mates. Then invited a couple of people to a reading, got some feedback and it was Simon’s idea to turn it into a musical, specifically a Christmas musical. I’m a massive musical theatre fan, I trained in musical theatre and was raised on it, so when he suggested the idea it was a no-brainer really.

How does it feel knowing that people will be humming the tunes in a show you wrote at 53two this Christmas?

If I think about it too much I’ll cry (I do cry a lot but that’s beside the point haha). They’ll be humming the wonderful tunes by Ollie Mills that he wrote for this little story and I’m not biased when I say they’re bloody great! He’s done such an amazing job of combining both of our creative voices together for this show and I’ve absolutely loved working with him. I hope we get to work together many times again and who knows, Bump(s) might carry on beyond Christmas!

Name your top 3 musicals and why…?

Now that is hard. I’m going to just choose Musicals I’ve actually seen otherwise we’ll be here all day. Gun to my head; Avenue Q is one of my favourite shows ever. I think it’s so unbelievably clever and a show I’d LOVE to be in one day. Second, I’m going to go for Hamilton. Basic answer but there’s a reason it’s so popular. I saw it in the West End for my 18th birthday with my mum and it was one of the best things I’ve ever seen! Then third, I’m going to go for The Last Five Years. Jason Robert Brown is one of my favourite Musical Theatre composers and I just love that show and how every single time I watch it I end it with a different opinion!

If someone is coming to Bump(s) as a complete newcomer, why would you tell them to come along?

I’d say, come support new writing! Your bum on a seat means so much to everyone involved and we’d love to have full audiences every night! And I’d say it’s a story that everyone can relate to in some way, there’s a character and story for everyone I think. It’s about growing up, about having no idea what you’re doing and just rolling with the punches anyway. It’s Christmassy, it’s light-hearted with some more serious moments sprinkled in and you’ll leave the theatre feeling filled with Christmas joy and warm and fuzzy hopefully! So come and support new writing in a lovely independent theatre!

What has been the best thing that has come from putting pen to paper for this new musical?

Oh god, do you want a list? It’s been the most mental experience but in the best way. It’s the biggest thing I’ve written and it’s been so challenging but so incredibly rewarding at the same time. Our cast is brilliant, Si’s direction is great and Ollie’s music is genius and has made me cry multiple times. It’s just been an absolute joy and I hope that comes across for audiences!

You are a huge Taylor Swift fan, will there be a mention of her within the show for any fellow Swifties?

Haha, I am. There isn’t, unfortunately! But in my head, Jessie (played by Beth Lily-Banks) is a massive Swiftie just like me.

Manchester has really embraced 53two and more people know about the place than ever before. But if someone has not been before, what can they expect?

A community. 53two has a gorgeous group of people around it and we’re always looking to expand and welcome newbies in! We really try to create a safe and welcoming space for everyone, not just creatives. If you’re a theatre fan

there’s always a great selection of shows in our programme every year and we’ve had lots of people have their first theatre experience here which is exactly what we want! To bring more people into the joy of the arts and storytelling.

What is it you love about Manchester?

The people. I’ve lived here for six years now since my first year of drama school and I have the most incredible group of people around me. From my work family at 53two, the beautiful friends I’ve made over the years from being here, I do a lot of work with Oldham Theatre Workshop who are another great community and group of people in Greater Manchester. I’m just surrounded by beautiful people all the time and I feel very lucky and grateful for that. And it’s not

too far from my hometown in Rhyl. It only takes me about an hour and a half to get back to my even more wonderful Mum and Dad and family, so everybody’s a winner!

Lastly, what can you tell us about Bump(s) that we don’t already know?

It’s a story about growing up and how you never really stop growing up which I’ve talked about but it’s also one big fat love story. Of love in all forms, romantic, platonic, family. It’s a story of unconditional love, of leaning on those you

love and like I said before, just rolling with the punches. Love isn’t just romantic and though there is quite a bit of that in the show, there are also so many other forms of love in it that I hope comes across and I’ve done them justice. I

know that sounds a bit w*nky but it’s true. You gotta love love, man!