From the balcony at the Mayflower Theatre to writing my own shows

Thomas Arnold

I didn’t grow up in Southampton, but the city has shaped my life in ways I’m only now beginning to understand. I’m from Bournemouth, and some of my earliest memories of theatre were trips to the Mayflower Theatre, sitting in the dark watching touring musicals sweep me into other worlds. Those shows sparked something that’s never quite left me. Even now, as a London-based musical director and songwriter, I still keep an eye on what’s playing there, and I try to come back whenever I can. The energy of Southampton audiences – and the sense that theatre really belongs to the community – has always stayed with me.

In recent years I’ve been lucky enough to see Southampton’s cultural life evolve. The work happening at Mast Mayflower Studios and the legacy of Nuffield Southampton Theatres show how regional venues can be creative homes as much as performance spaces. When my co-writer Grace O’Keefe and I were developing a musical adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, we were able to share songs early on with people connected to MAST, and their encouragement made a huge difference. That kind of support reminded me how important regional arts organisations are.

The show itself grew out of workshops in London, but it really came alive when British Youth Musical Theatre commissioned us to create a full production to coincide with the 250th anniversary celebrations of Jane Austen across Hampshire. Suddenly, a project we’d been slowly shaping had a real purpose and a deadline. We finished the piece in about eight months, and it premiered with 38 young performers aged 16–21. Seeing them connect with Austen’s story was extraordinary.

Working with young performers has become central to what I do. I’m now musical director for the Musical Theatre course at the University of Winchester, and watching students discover confidence through rehearsal rooms is one of the most rewarding parts of my career. Youth theatre and university productions aren’t just stepping stones to professional work; they’re places where people learn collaboration and communication. Even if someone never performs again, those skills stay with them. Communities like Southampton’s understand that, which is why their theatres matter so much.

I’ve been fortunate to work on shows across the country – from small fringe venues to larger houses – but I always come back to the idea that art shouldn’t be confined to London. It’s easy for culture to centralise, to become detached from the audiences who might need it most. Regional theatres are different. They have a direct relationship with their cities. They tell stories that reflect local pride and curiosity, whether that’s celebrating Austen in Hampshire or nurturing new voices who grew up watching shows from the balcony of the Mayflower.

Our adaptation of Sense and Sensibility is still growing. We’ve produced a concert version, a youth production, and a university staging, and we’re planning an EP release this spring. But one of my biggest hopes is to bring the show to Southampton. Early on, when we were sharing songs with MAST, I could imagine it – a new musical inspired by Austen’s world, performed in a city that helped inspire me to fall in love with theatre in the first place. There’s something beautiful about that circle closing.

What Southampton has always offered me, and so many others, is the feeling that culture is shared. You see families, students, older couples, people who might never travel to London, all gathered together for a story. That sense of belonging is powerful. It reminds you that theatre isn’t just entertainment.

If our musical does find its way to Southampton, I hope it feels like part of that bigger picture. Not just a touring show, but a contribution. From someone who sat in those seats as a child, to a city that continues to invest in creativity, young people and community. In a time when the arts can feel fragile, Southampton’s commitment to culture gives me hope, and it’s a privilege to be even a small part of that story.

To stay in touch with our journey, or to find out more about our unpcoming concerts and shows, please visit: https://linktr.ee/senseandsensibilitymusical