The latest piece by composer Nicholas Keyworth – the Crocodile Trio – received its world premiere in Bangkok this month.

Three performers from Chulalongkorn University (pictured above) premiered the work at Bangkok Art And Culture Centre on 4-5 April 2026. Watch the video trailer here:

This piece draws together instruments and musical colours from different worlds: 

• The universality of the Piano
• The western orchestral and chamber tradition of the Cello
• The distinct sound of traditional Thai music from the Jakhe.

The Jakhe is traditionally shaped rather like a crocodile – although today the shape is more stylised. The name Jakhe is also close to the Thai word for crocodile: Ja-rak-hé. Hence the title given to this trio.

On one level, this piece has its roots in the classical piano trio, but on another it explores the similarity and differences of music from different traditions through its three contrasting movements:

The listener might imagine a crocodile swimming up the Chao Phraya river through Bangkok and visiting several locations along the way:
1. Pak Nam: The mouth of the river
2. Ko Kret: A sleepy river island
3. Bang Kachao: The ‘green lung’ of Bangkok

This commission grew out of a collaboration between Chulalongkorn University, Edupropgress Thailand and Revolution Arts.  The premiere took place as part of a two day Trinity College London Awards Ceremony for students who had excelled in examinations throughout 2025.

The Piano score and parts for Cello and Jackhe are now available as digital downloads from the Revolution Arts website. A printed version will also follow alongside plans for a complete performance of the full work and a recording.

Alongside the 8 March World Premiere of The Sanctuary Stones, this year will also see performances of its companion pieces – The Moonrakers and The Story of the Great White Horse – around the world.

March: THAILAND

The finishing touches are in place for the premiere of The Sanctuary Stones in Bangkok commissioned by 
Spotlight Performing Arts Festival supported by EduProgress and Trinity College London. 

The Sanctuary Stones is the final part of The Wiltshire Trilogy by composer Nicholas Keyworth and writer Philip Jamieson. This piece follows The Story of the Great White Horse (2024) and The Moonrakers (2025).

These fully-staged musical theatre pieces are created for similar forces of young people working with professional performers. There is also a live 5-piece band, although the pieces can also be performed with backing tracks or with piano. 

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April: CHINA

Director of Performing Arts James Smale will bring The Story of the Great White Horse to life with a performance at Foshan’s Lady Eleanor Holles International School.

‘How appropriate to be bringing this piece to China this year – the Chinese Year of the Horse.’  Says James

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July & August: MALAYSIA

Performances of The Story of the Great White Horse are planned as part of Performance Live! Fest in Borneo and Kuala Lumpur in August. In addition, a production of The Moonrakers is being planned in Penang in July as part of the Language Arts Festival 2026 with Director Sue Sudarak.

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‘I am delighted to learn that these musical theatre pieces are taking off around the globe. Designed for young performers working alongside professionals, these pieces are the perfect introduction to the world of real musical theatre.’ Says Nicholas

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September: SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa, Elevate Education will present The Moonrakers in Greyton, Overberg near Cape Town.

‘I saw the premiere of this piece in Bangkok last year and really loved it – so I am delighted to be bringing it to South Africa.’ Says Director Francine Booysens

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Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun ahead of the world premiere of The Sanctuary Stones on
8 March in Bangkok. 

Set long ago on the plains of Wiltshire, The Sanctuary Stones explores themes of transformation, metamorphosis and compromise. Devised by composer Nicholas Keyworth and writer Philip Jamieson, this is the third piece in the duo’s Wiltshire trilogy following on from The Great White Horse (2024) and The Moonrakers (2025).

“As with the other two pieces in this trilogy, these themes have an international resonance which young people can really relate to.”

Nicholas Keyworth (composer and musical director)

The piece will be performed by young performers aged 7-15,  a narrator/singer, dancer/choreographer plus a band of five musicians. Let’s meet three of the creatives who will be on stage at the premiere performance: 

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Nicholas Keyworth: Musical Director

Former Chief Examiner at Trinity College London, and artistic director of a UK-based arts charity, Nicholas is also founder and director of Revolution Arts.

Nicholas’s compositions includes work for the stage and concert hall including the epic Revolution The Musical, Globetrotter for piano and Piano Circus premiered in August 2025. 

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Benjamin Love: Hybrida

Raised in the Alabama gospel tradition and inspired by the legends of Soul, Motown, Jazz, and the Blues, Benjamin delivers an authentic “Old School” vocal sound. 

After returning to Thailand, his solid musical foundation and lifelong passion earned him the top spot as the winner of the 2004 Thailand’s National Five-Region Singing Competition.

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JP Kaewhanaham: Raven

With over 15 years’ experience working with children, JP is a professional dancer and choreographer who brings energy, creativity, and heart to every stage he steps on. 

Before training in the USA, JP was winner of the World Pro-Am Championships in Las Vegas in 2010 and repeatedly won the South African Pro-Am Dance Championships between 2012 and 2024.

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The Sanctuary Stones will be premiered as part of the Spotlight Showcase 2026 on Sunday 8 March at 4.30pm at the Bangkok Arts & Cultural Centre (BACC).

The Sanctuary Stones has been commissioned by the Spotlight Performing Arts Festival with support from EduProgress and Trinity College London. 

The Sanctuary Stones – the third and final part of the ‘Wiltshire Trilogy’ by  Nicholas Keyworth and Philip Jamieson – will be premiered in Bangkok in March 2026.

‘We are now recruiting the cast for this year’s musical theatre show. We need a group of young people aged 7-11 for singing, acting and movement. This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside a professional singer and dancer and perform on stage with a live band and conductor.’

Said Nicholas Keyworth, composer and musical director

Each lasting 30 minutes, these ‘mini musicals’ are an ideal introduction to the world of musical theatre for young performers working alongside professional performers. 

The Wiltshire Trilogy opened in Bangkok in 2024 with the premiere of The Great White Horse. Inspired by the ancient carvings of white horses in the chalk downlands, children aged 7-11 wearing horse-head masks performed alongside a professional storyteller and a tenor singer.

The following year saw the premiere of The Moonrakers inspired by the legend set in the historic Wiltshire town of Devizes. The children play a variety of pond dwellers in this show wearing masks and colourful socks to show their individual waterbird characters. 

The Great White Horse and The Moonrakers are already scheduled for 2026 performances in China, Malaysia, South Africa and other venues in Thailand.

The Sanctuary Stones is inspired by the ancient stone structure of wildfire such as the Avebury Stone Circle and the iconic Stonehenge which is recognisable worldwide.

The Sanctuary Stones will be premiered on Sunday 8 March at the Bangkok Arts & Cultural Centre. It has been commissioned by the Spotlight Performing Arts Festival with support from EduProgress and Trinity College London. 

Composer Nicholas Keyworth meets singer Benjamin who will perform the role of Hybrida in The Sanctuary Stones.

Did you know that our new pieces for Trinity’s ACTING exams are also perfect for DRAMA exams? Find out how…

Whether you do Trinity’s Acting exams or Speech & Drama exams, many of the requirements up to grade 3 are exactly the same and you can use much of our new material to provide some fresh new pieces for your students. In addition we have some fantastic hints, tips, advice and ideas to help reinvigorate your teaching.

Here is a comparison of the requirements for Trinity’s Acting exams and Speech & Drama exams from 2023…

As you can see, MONOLOGUES and MIME can be included in either exam from Grades 1 – 3. And ALL students take part on the REFLECTION at the end. 

So why monologues?

Monologues are great little self contained solo plays which students love performing. There are lots to chose from in our new collection with themes ranging from animals, collecting things and moving schools for the early grades.

By grade 3 the themes become more demanding with issues such as trust and friendship and with greater emotional depth.

“I highly recommend you explore this material whether as a teacher, parent or potential student. As well as developing the skills you need you will also HAVE FUN at the same time! I assure you that a quickglance will become much more…“

Mary Ann Tear Trinity College London Examiner and Consultant, BIFF Adjudicator, Educator, Performer, Director and Choreographer

But most importantly they are designed to exactly match the requirements and expectations for each grade – in length, content and suitability. 

And dont’ forget our introductory offer…