About the show

An exciting, modern adaptation of the beloved fable – The Ugly Duckling – this award-winning musical is a heartwarming celebration of what makes us special.

Since it first hatched in 1993 Stiles & Drewe's musical Honk! has winged its way around the world in over 8000 productions and in many different languages. Winner of multiple awards, including the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical, this celebration of being different is sure to inspire actors, singers and dancers to showcase their talents. Witty and hilarious, but also deeply moving, and with its memorable score, Honk! treats audiences to equal amounts of heart-warming laughter and tears.

Ugly looks quite a bit different from his darling duckling brothers and sisters. The other animals on the farm are quick to notice and point this out, despite his mother Ida's protective flapping. Feeling rather foul about himself, the little fowl finds himself on adventure of self-discovery all the while unknowingly outwitting a very hungry cat. Along the way Ugly meets a whole flock of unique characters and finds out being different is not a bad thing to be.

About the company

Thames Music Theatre is a youth Music Theatre company working within a charitable framework, established in 2023 by some of the most important and experienced leaders in youth Music Theatre in the UK.

TMT offers opportunities to young people in SW London and surrounding districts aged between 10 and 18 who are interested in creating and performing all forms of high-quality musical theatre – be they onstage performers or musicians or those interested in backstage or technical work. The board between them have very extensive experience in the field of training young people and youth music theatre, having been responsible for many productions all over the UK and abroad.

Indeed, Jeremy James Taylor in particular is almost solely to be thanked for the flourishing state of youth Music Theatre in the country over the last 50 years, in his capacity as its tireless promoter, visionary, creator, and as the founder and director of the National Youth Music Theatre itself for many decades! We work with external technical staff, directors and musicians of the highest calibre and experience to bring out the very best in the young people who work with us. Our staff have mentored many of the UKs top Musical Theatre performers, from their youth into their career, and have also worked with many of the country's leading performers of recent years in general: including such names as Idris Elba, Jamie Bell, Jonny Lee Miller, Ben Barnes, Jude Law, Sheridan Smith, Matt Lucas, Michael Jibson, Toby Jones, Hannah Spearritt, Roderick Williams, Ronnie Corbett, Ned Sherrin, Kit & the Widow, and many more. As well as our regular production work, TMT also works with local schools, delivering workshops and other creative sessions.