I am delighted to announce that I have been commissioned by the School Musicals Company to write a musical for 11-16-year olds. That musical, Hazel Hill and the Spitfire That Saved the World, is a 90-minute show based on the true story of the 13-year old girl who engineered the Spitfire plane, which helped to win that Battle of Britain. Read the full synopsis below.
Hazel Hill and the Spitfire That Saved the World
In 1940s Britain, thirteen-year-old Hazel Hill struggles to conform to her conventional school environment. She is bright, especially in mathematics, but struggles to concentrate, regularly ending up in detention for missed homework and daydreaming in class. Dubbed “Crazy Hazel” by her classmates, she finds solace in her after school Maths Club, where she is free to invent and push the boundaries of what is known.
When Hazel’s father, Fred, a plane engineer tasked with developing the Spitfire planes, arrives home disheartened by the latest test results, which suggest the Spitfire could not defeat enemy bombers, he asks for his daughter’s help, knowing her mathematical skills are unmatched. Hazel agrees, but tentatively: any miscalculation could lead to lives lost. Alongside Hazel's friends from the Maths Club, Hazel and Fred work against the clock, to try come up with a new design before the Air Ministry's deadline. But can Hazel handle the pressure? Can she find the answer without losing herself along the way?
Inspired by true events, ‘Hazel Hill and the Spitfire That Saved the World’ is a story of resilience, self-worth and the power of thinking differently. It is expected to debut in schools from Summer 2025.
*this image was AI-generated, pending the release of official artwork