New Musical Announced Based on Post Office Scandal

Make Good Poster - provided by the production

Commissioned by Pentabus and produced by Pentabus and New Perspectives, Make Good - a new musical based on the Post Office scandal - is set to tour the UK later this year.

Written by Jeanie O’Hare (Queen Margaret) and composed by Jim Fortune (Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear), with additional music and lyrics by Maimuna Memon (Manic Street Creature), Make Good will be directed by Pentabus’ Artistic Director Elle White.

It tells the real-life story of the 900+ sub-postmasters who were wrongly prosecuted by Post Office over a failing in their Fujitsu Horizon system. Some sub-postmasters found themselves owing thousands of pounds of their own money, with others being unjustly sent to prison. The scandal resulted in one sub-postmaster taking their own life. Earlier this year ITV released the true-drama series ‘Mr Bates vs. The Post Office’ which highlighted the real battle of Alan Bates and other sub-postmasters in their battle for justice.

To tell this story, Make Good will use interviews with the sub-postmasters affected by this ongoing battle but it will not be verbatim theatre. Make Good will highlight the injustice that the sub-postmasters have faced, and continue to face, and sings of their fight to prove their innocence.

O’Hare said: “When the pre-election bluster of politicians has run out of spit, the heartache will still be there. The family bonds that held the sub-postmasters and postmistresses together were built on love, community and hope. Song is how you celebrate that.”

Recipients of support from the RSC and National Theatre Studio’s Generate Programme, Make Good will tour the UK, starting in Ludlow Assembly Rooms from 18th October 2024. It will also stop at Theatre Sever and Hereford College of Art, with further venues to be announced.