Meet the fairy photographers and their believers, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and
ask yourself: do we need evidence to believe the impossible?
British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) presents The Cottingley Fairies, a brand new musical inspired by the extraordinary true story of two girls who convinced the world they had photographed real fairies. In partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome, BYMT revives this century-old story of the power of imagination for a new generation, with an earthy, alternative folk score blended with the nostalgia of 1970s rock.
The Cottingley Fairies by Packham & Kealy – Clare Packham (Writer & Co-Lyricist) and Fintan Kealy (Composer & Co-Lyricist) – was developed during their residency at BYMT as the 2025 Cameron Mackintosh Writing Team, with input from students and young people. Opening BYMT’s 2026 season, this thrilling new musical brings together 38 young performers and musicians from across the UK.
Packham & Kealy: “Audiences can expect fairies that are far from twee, and instead reflect the inspiration we’ve taken from earthy 1970’s rock, and ethereal baroque pop to create a score that echoes the otherworldliness of our fairies, and the wildness of their young photographers.
It felt right to tell this story now, especially in a world where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to identify fraudulent images with the rise of generative AI. We uncover the complexities of hoaxes, how they endure, and question whether truth is always the most important factor.”
Emily Gray, BYMT Creative Director: “It’s wonderful to be opening BYMT’s new season with our partners at Birmingham Hippodrome and to celebrate the work of Packham & Kealy. Their residency with us has seen them hone their skills across theatre production, support the development of a BYMT season and write this whimsical new musical. The themes of the show resonate with our young people, who react with such excitement to the real story of two girls discovering the hold their photography could have over the adult world. We look forward to working with both our young performers and brilliant creatives, as well as welcoming audiences to this profound and playful show.”
Maya Edwards, BYMT Young Company Panel member and Birmingham local: “The Cottingley Fairies is an exciting musical that brings to light the magic of the real world. This production was particularly favoured due to its themes of hope and its representations of the imagination of often underestimated teenagers. Audiences will immediately connect with the vibrant story of ‘The Cottingley Fairies’ that is made even more compelling as it is based on a real story!
It is wonderful for BYMT to be welcomed back to the Birmingham Hippodrome, one of the UK’s premier presenting theatres, for this production! Working in professional theatres such as the Hippodrome allows young casts to develop their knowledge of the industry, whilst the supportive staff ensure the theatre is a learning environment.”
The Cottingley Fairies is BYMT’s first production of 2026. During the summer, the company will premiere five more full productions including The Clockmaker’s City (Manchester, 31 July – 2 August), Technical Difficulties (Hull, 7-8 August), Paper Stars (Exeter, 14-16 August), Sea Change (Birmingham, 28-30 August) and Frankenstein (London, 28-30 August). Alongside these performances, the company’s six development camps and Upskill Short Course bring together young performers and creative teams to explore new ideas and shape the next generation of musical theatre.
Book your tickets for The Cottingley Fairies at Birmingham Hippodrome from 10-12 April.