National Theatre of Scotland is thrilled to announce the launch of Orphans – National Theatre of Scotland (Original Cast Recording), the soundtrack of our brand-new Scottish musical Orphans, ahead of the opening performance at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow on Thursday 7th April 2022.

The album features songs with music and lyrics by Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly, performed by Amy Conachan, Daniella Faakor Damptey, Amber Sylvia Edwards, Robert Florence, Chloe Hodgson, Reuben Joseph, Louise McCarthy, Paul McCole, John McLarnon, Patricia Panther, Martin Quinn, Betty Valencia, Harry Ward, Charlie West and Dylan Wood, the original cast of the new Scottish musical Orphans.

Orphans is a darkly comic musical about family, grief and forgiveness, based on Peter Mullan’s much-loved cult film, and is adapted for stage by Douglas Maxwell, directed by Cora Bissett and features raucous and heartfelt songs with music and lyrics by Glaswegian composing team Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly. The Original Cast Recording presents all 23 songs from the new musical, performed by the original cast, including tracks such as ‘What Happens Now?’, ‘Safe With You’, ‘Scream If You Wanna Go Faster’ and ‘Time is Time’.

Set in 1998, Orphans follows the Flynn siblings on a stormy night in Glasgow after the death of their mother. Thomas won’t leave the church, Michael is bleeding and roaming the streets, John has a gun and is set on revenge while Sheila wants to live life on her own terms. But will the siblings survive the night to get to their mother’s funeral?   

The music for Orphans is created by independent Glasgow-based artists  Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly. Together they have written the score for the film, Our Ladies, the music and lyrics for the zombie comedy film Anna and the Apocalypse, and for Steven Spielberg’s revival of Animaniacs winning a Daytime Emmy award for Best Original Song for an Animation.

Composers and musical directors Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly said:

“We are beyond thrilled to be making our stage musical debut with Orphans for the National Theatre of Scotland. It has been a dream project to work on this adaptation of Peter Mullan’s incredible film and write a collection of songs that we hope represents Scottish life in all its glory: the heart, the heartbreak, the darkness and the humour. And now we get to share it all with this specially recorded original soundtrack featuring our amazingly talented cast.” 

Orphans – National Theatre of Scotland (Original Cast Recording) is available to purchase and stream digitally on all major platforms, and can be found here on our website.

Orphans, a new Scottish musical, is a National Theatre of Scotland production based on the Film ORPHANS written and directed by Peter Mullan © Channel Four Television Corporation and the Glasgow Film Fund 1997.