Songs (click on the songs to be taken to the song where it appears in the script)

You're not alone

Musicals and Me

Born to be Free

Dates as follows

4th March - session 1

11th March - session 2

18th March - school disco, no session

25th March - session 3

1st April - Easter Holiday

8th April - Easter Holiday

15th April - session 4

22nd April - session 5

29th April - session 6

6th May - session 7

13th May - session 8

20th May - session 9

27th May - Half Term

3rd June - session 10

10th June - session 11

17th June - session 12

Scene 1 - Janet showing off

We start with an empty stage. We have a person walk onto the stage. This person owns an orphanage. She's walking past when she spots the audience. She talks to the audience.

Janet Orphanage owner

Oh hello. 

They look all around and behind to see if there's anyone else around.

Janet Orphanage owner

Right, there's no one else around. I've got a secret and I'm bursting to tell someone.

You see, I am a very clever & talented person. I'm supposed to keep it quiet but I think at least someone should know what a genius I am. 
For a start I'm an excellent gymnast, and if you're lucky one day you'll see me do some of my tricks.
But then also, I own an orphanage and I get paid to look after these children. I could be happy with that but the problem is that I'm a bit lazy. I want the money but I can't be bothered to do the work.
So, and this is pure genius' I hire out all the children to local businesses. Yes, that's right, the businesses pay me. So I get paid twice and yet I don't look after any children.
Of course there is still work to do, admin, cleaning. But even then I'm genius.
One of the orphans Natasha, does all that for me. She's not clever enough to realise what I'm doing. That's how I like it. You see...

Janet Orphanage owner is interrupted by the arrival of the local policeman PC Thompson

PC Thompson

Ah, Janet, just the person I was looking for.

Janet Orphanage owner

No doubt you want to use my brains to help solve a crime?

PC Thompson

Errrrm, not exactly. You see, I popped by the orphanage and couldn't find a single child there. What's going on.

Janet Orphanage owner

Nothing to worry about officer, you see I've sent them on a special trip to Thorpe Park today. They were so happy

PC Thompson

Funny that, the last time I checked in on them you told me that they'd gone to the theatre. How come...

Suddenly PC Thompson gets a call

PC Thompson

I've got to get this. Yes sir, I'll be over straight away

Janet mops his brow with a smirk on his face and leaves the stage

Scene 2 - The leaning tower of Pizza

Pizza owner of The leaning tower of Pizza

Right everyone I need you to work even harder than you did yesterday

Orphans

but....

Pizza owner of The leaning tower of Pizza

No but's. I have a business to run and I need to get a return on my investment. Now I've got a round of golf to play so get on with it.

Julie, Toni and Bob all sit down looking deflated

Julie

This just isn't fair

Toni

We do all the work

Bob

While they make lots of money and don't do the work

Julie

and we don't get paid

Toni

Yet they bully us into working harder and harder

Bob

And as for Natasha. I thought she'd help us but perhaps she's sold out to Janet

We here piano music start to play. Julie notices Natasha walking in and says..

Julie

Natasha?

Natasha sings, the others may join in into the song

You’re not alone 

Version with vocals

Piano only version to practice your vocals

Verse 1

You, you tell me what you’re going thru
I know how you feel, I’m there too,
every day, they hurt me in the same way
Though I try, I feel that I’m far too shy,
but it doesn’t give them (all) the right
to hurt me, & yet somehow they feel free

CHORUS

every night, I’m fighting away the tears,
yet if you ask I’ll say I’m ok,
cause I don’t know what to do,
should I reveal what they put me thru
You’re not alone, just like you I’m hurting too

Verse 2

Do you find, that terrible thoughts haunt your mind?
Those words that were said so unkind, they replay,
in a loop throughout the day,
I’ve betrayed, the person that I was to be
it’s a prisoner that yearns to be free,
Without a key, behind bars that shadow me?

CHORUS

every night, I’m fighting away the tears,
yet if you ask I’ll say I’m ok,
cause I don’t know what to do,
should I reveal what they put me thru
You’re not alone, just like you I’m hurting too

CHORUS

every night, I’m fighting away the tears,
yet if you ask I’ll say I’m ok,
cause I don’t know what to do,
should I reveal what they put me thru
No I don’t know what to do,
should I reveal what they put me thru
You’re not alone, just like you I’m hurting too

Toni

Natasha, I thought you were on Janet's side

Natasha

No, like you I'm forced to work with no pay.

Julie

What are we going to do?

Natasha

Well I've got an idea. Now listen closely

They all get close together, Natasha talks but the audience does not hear what's being said. They leave the stage

Scene 3 - Dough land

We're at the Bakery called Dough Land, the owner, Maria, is talking to her workers

Maria

Now guys, you're doing a great job for the most part but I had a complaint yesterday from a customer that their bread wasn't fully baked.

Emma

Oh no

Louise

So sorry Maria

Adele

We'll make sure it doesn't happen again

Maria

I know you're doing your best but I need you to be more careful
I'm afraid that if it happens again I won't allow you to go to the ball

Adele

But we were looking forward to that

Louise

We so want to hear the live music

Emma

You promised

Maria

I can only guarantee if you don't make a mistake again. I can't afford to lose customers you see.
Guys, would you sing our song about musicals with me?

Emma

Sure

They start to sing

Musicals and Me

Version with vocals

Version that's piano only as a backing track

Verse

When I was young I fell in love with shows. Musicals. Emma
Matilda was one, Wicked I loved that too. Then there was Six. Louise

Then later on, I went to the Edinburgh Fringe, every year Adele

I was so inspired by original brilliant shows, musicals Maria

Chorus

Musicals, they make me laugh, Emma

they make me cry Louise
But most of all, Adele
they cheer me up, Louise
make life so fine Maria
and I am so in la la la la love Emma

with musicals all
We're so in love with musicals all

With musicals Louise

Outro

When I was young I fell in love with shows. Musicals. Emma

Maria cheers

Maria

You guys are amazing. Now be very good and you shall go to the ball. See you later

She leaves the room and as she does Natasha walks in

Natasha

Well done you guys that was beautiful.
You guys are luckier than the other orphans. Maria is a nicer person than Giovanni, however, I have a plan. Listen...

As before they huddle round while Natasha tells them the plan. The audience can't hear

Scene 4 - The chance meeting

We see Janet sat having a coffee at a table and Maria and Giovanni arrive from different directions

Janet

ahhh, there you both are.

Giovanni

Hi Janet

Maria

Hi Janet

Janet

I trust everything is working well?

Giovanni

Oh yes. I give them a hard time every now and then to make them work harder. The harder they work the more gold I can play

Maria

Yes, they are a lovely bunch. I do feel guilty at times though

Janet

Oh Maria don't feel guilty. We're just lucky. We're free their not. Someone has to have the luck. I'm glad it's us.
Oh, here comes Natasha. She's not clever enough to know what's going on so careful what you say.
Hi Natasha

Natasha

Hi Everyone. I hope you're all well

Giovanni

Yes, just taking a well earned break

Maria

Yes, my team are brilliant but we all work very hard together

PC Thompson suddenly turns up. 

PC Thompson

Hello everyone, are you all having a good day?

All

yes

Janet

We're planning the annual Ball officer. This year's going to be the best one ever. Natasha has arranged this musical performance from a band called the Liberation. Word has it that they are very good indeed.

PC Thompson

Sounds good. How about you Natasha, I everything fine here?

Natasha

Couldn't be better PC Thompson

She winks at PC Thompson suggesting there's more than meets the eye here

PC Thompson

Oh ok, I'll leave you all to it then. Have a fine day

Scene 5 - The Ball

We see Janet walk on state to the center and to the spotlight. Music plays in the background as she does some gymnastics.

Maria, and Giovanni who are sat down at a table cheer wildly when Janet finishes and takes a bow in front of the audience.

Then we see Natasha arrive, microphone in hand.

Natasha

Well, I'm sure you all agree that was amazing by Janet. Can we have another round of applause for her talent please.

After the applause dies down

Natasha

We have now come to the final performance of the night so I hope you've all had a wonderful time tonight at the ball?

Janet, Maria, and Giovanni say yes, as we hope the crowd (audience) will too.

Natasha

We now have a special performance from a special band. I am part of that band so I will make a start.

Music starts playing and we hear born to be free

Born to be free

Version with vocals

Piano only so you can rehearse your vocals

Verse 1

Listen, I hear the words you say, and seen the games you’ve played! Natasha
You’re crying! But I can’t give anything you seek! No. Miah
Tell me, how you could, look me in my eyes, While telling me your lies Frankie
You’re still crying, But I won’t be wiping any tears from your eyes, I’m not sure I can find the
strength to stand and fight, but I’m telling you this Natasha
I was born to be free Adele
I was born to be me Adele, Frankie
We’re all born to be... Natasha, Miah, Frankie, Adele

Chorus

...free to be what we wanna be! If that’s alright? Everyone
We’re free to do what we wanna do! If that’s ok?
We’re free to be what we wanna be! If that’s alright so...
...stop your yelling there’s no way you’re telling me that I have no right to be free
Everybody just join in this loving vibe, cause we’re all born to be free!
Stop your yelling there’s no way you’re telling me that I have no right to be free
Everybody just join in this loving vibe, cause we’re all born to be…
We’re all born to be…
We’re all born to be...

Chorus 2

...free to be what we wanna be!, If that’s alright?
We’re free to do what we wanna do!, If that’s ok?
We’re free to be what we wanna be!, If that’s alright so...
...stop your yelling there’s no way you’re telling me that I have no right to be free
Everybody just join in this loving vibe, cause we’re all born to be free!
Stop your yelling there’s no way you’re telling me that I have no right to be free
Everybody just join in this loving vibe, cause we’re all born to be…
We’re all born to be…
We’re all born to be...
We’re all born to be free
We have all been deceived
We’re all born to be free

Outro

So do what you wanna do, See what you wanna see
Be who you want to be, Go where you wanna go
Love who you want to love, Dance when you wanna dance
Read what you wanna read, Say what you wanna say
Cause We’re… Natasha
...we’re all born to be...
...free
We’re all born to be free 

While the song performs, Maria, Giovanna and Janet are shocked to see their exploited workers performing and are looking all around but they can't leave as PC Thompson is there looking at them and when the performance is finished he says

PC Thompson

Janet, Giovanni, Maria, you are all under arrest.

They get up to run stage left but half the orphans bock them stopping them. They run stage right but half the orphans move to block them. They run left and right.

Scene 1 Orphanage owner on stage telling the audience how clever he is, then confronted by the police about a suspician

Scene 2: Pizza  shop. owner talking to the orphans, leaves, then maid turns up, speaks to them, they then perform a song

Scene 3: Bakery owner talking to the orphans, leaves, then maid turns up, speaks to them, they then perform a song

Scene 4: owners chatting together on stage, orphan owner asks how the orphans are doing, they gloat about how clever they are, the Maid turns up and and she's playing them at their own game saying she's been to see them and they don't know what's going. The the policeman comes on and expresses their, the maid say's everything's fine but blinks at the policeman

Scene 5: They are at the ball, when the maid announces a band who are going to perform. the owners are shocked to see that it's the orpans performing but they can't do anything in front of the police. after the orphans finish performing the police arrest the owners. The orphans chear. Maid sings a final song?

Born to be free

Verse 1

Listen, I hear the words you say, and seen the games you’ve played!
You’re crying! But I can’t give anything you seek! No.
Tell me, how you could, look me in my eyes, While telling me your lies
You’re still crying, But I won’t be wiping any tears from your eyes, I’m not sure I can find the
strength to stand and fight, but I’m telling you this
I was born to be free
I was born to be me
We’re all born to be...

Chorus

...free to be what we wanna be! If that’s alright?
We’re free to do what we wanna do! If that’s ok?
We’re free to be what we wanna be! If that’s alright so...
...stop your yelling there’s no way you’re telling me that I have no right to be free
Everybody just join in this loving vibe, cause we’re all born to be free!
Stop your yelling there’s no way you’re telling me that I have no right to be free
Everybody just join in this loving vibe, cause we’re all born to be…
We’re all born to be…
We’re all born to be...

Chorus 2

...free to be what we wanna be!, If that’s alright?
We’re free to do what we wanna do!, If that’s ok?
We’re free to be what we wanna be!, If that’s alright so...
...stop your yelling there’s no way you’re telling me that I have no right to be free
Everybody just join in this loving vibe, cause we’re all born to be free!
Stop your yelling there’s no way you’re telling me that I have no right to be free
Everybody just join in this loving vibe, cause we’re all born to be…
We’re all born to be…
We’re all born to be...
We’re all born to be free
We have all been deceived
We’re all born to be free

Outro

So do what you wanna do, See what you wanna see
Be who you want to be, Go where you wanna go
Love who you want to love, Dance when you wanna dance
Read what you wanna read, Say what you wanna say
Cause We’re…
...we’re all born to be...
...free
We’re all born to be free

Hi All,
Yesterday was a brilliant audition session with so much talent making it all the more difficult to make cast choices.
You were all excellent. So much so that I want to expand many aspects beyond what it is now. I want Maria to sing too. I want more soloists on Born to be free and I've made the orphanage owner an acrobat who will perform at the ball before seeing the orphans sing.
Therefore I will be making a few tweaks to the script to accomodate this (keep an eye out, these will probably be made tomorrow, Friday). I know that you guys are going to put on a brilliant show.
here is the cast announcement. 

Cast (as of Thursday 16 April 2026)

1. Natasha - Orphanage Maid - Niamh

2. Janet - Orphanage owner, and part time acrobat - Lea

3. Maria - Dough Land owner - Mable

4. Nathan - The leaning tower of Pizza owner - Alex

5. PC Thompson - Police person - Tommy

6. Bob - Orphan working in The leaning tower of Pizza - Jaxson

7. Julie - Orphan working in The leaning tower of Pizza - Anya

8. Louise - Orphan working in The leaning tower of Pizza - Josie

9. Emma - Orphan working in Dough Land - Frankie

10. Louise - Orphan working in Dough Land - Miah

11. Adele - Orphan working in Dough Land - Olivia