Pied Piper – A Hip Hop Family Musical

PIED PIPER

Following the award-winning, five-star smash-hit stage show and BBC film, Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster, Battersea Arts Centre’s Beatbox Academy returns to the stage with their celebrated hip-hop musical Pied Piper!

It’s the eve of the mayoral election, and the kids of Hamelin aren’t happy. The mayor and owner of the local pie factory has imposed a music ban, and to make matters worse, there’s a serious rat problem. But there have been whispers of a mysterious rat catcher in town… sometimes he plays a pipe… sometimes a microphone. Can this curious stranger help Hamelin to find its voice once more? 

Pied Piper is a raucous musical re-imagining of a medieval fairy-tale. Featuring a hugely talented cast of beatboxers, musicians and special guest performances from the local community, get ready for an electrifying night of vocal wizardry for all the family.

Please be aware that this performance uses haze, loud music and sounds, flashing lights, references to mild peril and threat, talking over music, moments of darkness and some audience participation.

★★★★★ “This awesome, upbeat production is literally gobsmacking” Everything Theatre

★★★★★ “Brilliantly playful, cheeky fun for the whole family” Everything Theatre

★★★★ “Incredibly energetic” What’s On Stage

★★★★ “The talent is tremendous. New adventures in sound keep coming; pure-voiced solos; beatboxing that hums and clicks and raspberries and waterfalls; unexpected chorale laments.” The Observer

★★★★ “Joyful, chaotic and engaging… a collective triumph.” Plays To See

“Mighty” Time Out 

“A musical and vocal triumph” South Londoner

Acknowledgements

Pied Piper was originally conceived in 2023 by Battersea Arts Centre, Beatbox Academy and rODIUM Ltd.

The 2026 tour is co-produced in Peterborough by Arcade and Jumped Up Theatre, in partnership with The Cresset, with generous support from Arts Council England and The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Jumped Up Theatre creates opportunities for Peterborough communities to make, enjoy and celebrate arts and culture, and is delighted to partner with The Cresset to bring this professional production to local audiences.

About the Company – Battersea Arts Centre’s Beatbox Academy

(Reviews for Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster)

★★★★★ “Brilliant. An old story made electrically alive.” — The Stage

★★★★★ “Mind-blowing… the space throbs with unimaginably complex harmonies and beats.” — The Guardian

Creative Team

• Concept & story co-created by Conrad Murray & Lara Taylor
• Written, composed & musically directed by Conrad Murray
• Co-directed by Conrad Murray & Ria Parry
• Movement direction by Gavin Maxwell
• Dramaturgy by Lisa Goldman
• Set & lighting design by Ben Pacey
• Costume design by Erin Guan
• Sound design by Ed Clark
• rODIUM Ltd is produced by Impossible Producing 
• Tour funded by Arts Council England

Original performers and devisers

Conrad Murray, Kate Donnachie, Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Alex Hardie, Ananya Panwar, Aziza Amira Brown, David Bonnick Junior & Chris Maylor.

Commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre, Gulbenkian Theatre, Belgrade Theatre and ARCADE. 2026 tour funded by Arts Council England.