Play On

Sealed brand new from Paul McLaney and friends.

In April 2016, award-winning musician Paul McLaney assembled a collection of well-known musicians to perform Play On at Auckland’s Pop-up Globe Theatre. The sell-out one-off show saw a collection of Shakespeare’s most well-known soliloquies performed as a song cycle by some of NZ’s most talented vocalists.

Following on from the show’s success, McLaney and the cast undertook a series of recording sessions and the result is Play On – 11 tracks setting some of Shakespeare’s most famous words to music for the first time.

To celebrate this world first concept, the show will travel to the Christchurch Arts Festival, Taranaki Arts Festival and the Auckland Live International Cabaret Season in 2017.

“If music be the food of love, play on…”

Across 11 tracks, Play On sees McLaney’s diverse musical experience applied in yet another new way, creating music around lyrics that are over 400 years old.

Play On showcases not only the vocal ability of McLaney, but also his skills as a composer and features Esther Stephens, Julia Deans, Maisey Rika, Ria Hall, Laughton Kora, Mara TK, Andy Keegan (Drums), Richie Pickard (Bass) & Jessica Hindin, Mahuia Bridgeman-Cooper & Rachel Wells (Edin String Section).

01. Come Away Death 02. The Deeds of Mercy w/ Ria Hall 03. The Sound& Fury w/ Mara TK 04. The Lunatic, The Lover & The Madman w/ Julia Deans 05. Love w/ Esther Stephens 06. The Passionate Shepherd To His Love w/ Esther & Laughton 07. To Be Or Not To Be w/ Esther Stephens 08. Until This Night w/ Mara TK 09. Hold! w/ Julia Deans 10. Our Revels Now Are Ended w/ Laughton Kora 11. Sonnet 18 w/ Maisey Rika