Two talented young Manx singers have appeared on an innovative concept album, which had its worldwide release last week.

Isaac Kreisky and Alexis Wilson, who are both 11 years old, have taken part in the recording of ’For Tonight’, an album featuring the songs of a musical production of the same name.

The album has been recorded remotely over the past few months by singers from all over the world, singing as characters in the play, with Isaac singing two songs in the role of the young Haydon Parry and Alexis performing as the young female lead role of Henrietta.

The album ’For Tonight’ has been produced by playwright Spencer Williams and is based on stories found in his three times great grandfather’s handwritten journal.

The story is set in a small rural town in Wales in 1832 and tells of Haydon Parry’s love for a Roma gypsy, Mirela, and the trials and prejudice they both face from each other’s families.

His original stage play of ’For Tonight’ was given its debut performance on the Isle of Man during the 2015 Theatrefest. Unable to bring the play to the stage because of the Covid restrictions, Spencer decided to turn the play into a concept album and thought he would like to have the island’s connection to the play featured.

He chose Isaac and Alexis to play the younger versions of the main characters after talking with their parents, Manx actors Lisa Kreisky and Kristene Sutcliffe.

Both the children are already experienced stage performers, having appeared in several large and small scale productions in the island, as well as singing with various choirs and ensembles.

Their songs were recorded at the island-based DAM Studios by producer Dave Armstrong.

’We record our songs over here in a recording studio in Douglas’, said Isaac.

’We did it quite a while ago, now about two to three months ago. We were in Dave Armstrong’s studio, and we had headphones and microphones. I really loved the headphones, as you could hear yourself so clearly. It was like wearing ear glasses.

’Also Dave Armstrong makes a really good cup of tea!’

To make matters more complicated for the children, one of the songs, the lullaby ’Suo Gâ*’ was sung in Welsh.

’It was quite hard to learn, but it wasn’t so bad, as I’ve sung songs in Manx before,’ said Isaac.

’My mum is Welsh, so she could help us figure out how to pronounce the words,’ said Alexis.

Both Lisa and Kristene said their children handled the experience well and think that the reality of being part of the album will only hit them when they are older.

’I don’t know if they get what a big deal being a part of a project like this really is,’ said Lisa.

’You are not often invited to sing alongside professional West End singers. To be part of a concept album like this is something else. It’s huge and it doesn’t happen very often. It was definitely a different experience for them,’ said Kristene.

’Listening to the album you would have no idea that they were not in the same room as each other. The production is stunning.

’As it was a Covid-era recording, every one recorded their stuff individually in the same way, as that’s the only way you could do it and it was all mixed together.

’Obviously these guys’ bits are relatively small to the rest of the play but if you are one of the main characters you would have been doing a lot of work on your own in a way that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. It is beautifully put together.’

’I liked being in the recording studio,’ said Alexis.

’It’s amazing being part of something like this. It feels like we are part of something really big.’

l ’For Tonight’ is available to download via Spotify.

More details from www.fortonightmusical.com