Since 2002, Allan McFadden has been collaborating with Australian writer Peter Fleming.
Their first musical together was Air Heart.
This was followed by Frank Christie, Frank Clarke!
Other musicals include: Madame De; Kitty Stromberg: Space Goddess; Laura; Noli Me Tangere.
There are another two or three musicals in various stages of completion.
Peter Fleming
Peter Fleming
Plays
A Brief History of Love. (Awgie Award Winner 1992) The life of Stephen Hawking
A Brief History of Love (ABC Radio Drama 1993)
Disputed Territories (Wesley Institute for the Arts 2001)
A Wolf in the Sunlight (ABC Radio Drama 2002, Ferknerkle Productions 2003)
The Siege of Cafe Glebe (Ferknerkle Productions 2003) – A ludicrous comedy
Obedience (Parnassus Den, 2010) – The life of Alphonsus Rodriguez.
Deception (Parnassus Den, 2013) – Fooling Hitler with a garrulous corpse.
Playwriting Contributions to:
Cravings (PACT Theatre, 1994)
Stephen Sondheim Evening at Sydney Town Hall (1994)
The Incredible Disappreaing Theatre Trick (Australian National Playwrights Centre, 1994)
Novels:
Falling to Destiny (2009) (ABC The Book Reading. 5 star review from Douglas Adams Magazine, UK)
Falling into History (2011) ABC The Book Reading)
Descent into Mars (due 2016)
Non Fiction:
Would I Like Jesus? (Paulist Press, US 2015)
Other:
Co-ordinator of the Australian Musical Foundation at NIDA, 1993/4
Administrator, the Australian National Playwrights Centre for three years
Marketing Manager, Theatre Nepean (UWS) 1997 – 2001
Lecturer, theatre history
Member of the US Dramatists Guild
Recipient of an award from the Australian Writers Guild
Graduate, NIDA Playwrights Studio, 1992
Their Writing Process:
Peter writes the first outline in script form. The future lyrics for the songs are written as text passages, in statements and intentions, highlighted in bold face. Allan adapts these into a lyric as he composes the music. Once a first draft of the score is completed, Peter reworks the script and he and Allan rework the lyrics into the final show version.
A reading by actor friends, some time later, usually takes place with Allan trying to sing all the songs. From this closed reading, changes are made to all facets of the musical.
The next step is to record a demo CD of the score and / or present a staged reading of the musical to friends and interested producers.
Peter and Allan like to have as many problems ironed out before submitting the material to theatre companies.