story synopsis
beat the system 
the musical

an original story
by mike and joyce watson

‘Dru and Dexy are both singers and musicians and meet by chance at the care home of Dexy’s Grandfather who sets them on a mission to improve the lonely life of the elderly and disadvantaged people through the power of drumming, singing and dancing.’
Copyright Mike Watson

act one

Dru and Dexy are both singers, drummers, dancers and performers. Dexy is trying to get settled status in the country. By chance Dru and Dexy meet at the Oak Tree Care Home where Dru is leading a drum, song and dance session for the residents. Dexy’s grandad is a well-loved, eccentric, care home resident and was once a musician and performer himself.

Although Grandad is a happy soul he knows there are plenty of older people who are not happy. Many feel isolated and lonely. There are many others in society are poor and disadvantaged. He sees lots of profits going to medical companies and believes it’s time for change. He wants to help these people but is now too old. He believes Dexy is the chosen one in his family that can make a difference. He gives Dexy and Dru the task to make this happen.

Dru gets Dexy to meet Brian the leader of Dru’s drumming and singing group called DrumChoir and together they work on a programme to reach out to those in need. Excited yet daunted Dexy and Dru form a band called Drumojo to help with the out-reach project. 

Dr Anne Watson a medical researcher based at the Oak Tree Care Home is starting to witness proven results in the health and wellbeing of residents since Dru started his classes. This means that medicine consumption has also declined. Professor Gwendolyne Schwarz, the Care Home’s Managing Director thinks this could become a huge problem for her lover Byron Smythe-Fogg as he is CEO of Medexis a large supplier of medicines to care homes. Together they thwart Dru and Dexy. Dru’s contract for drumming and singing at the Care Home is cancelled and they are given an injunction to stop drumming and singing for the elderly by Smythe-Fogg.

Unfortunately Grandad Joseph passes away. Dexy’s Father Colin is distraught but promises to help fulfil Grandads wishes with the help of Dr Watson. Dru and Dexy become closer through these difficult times. Dexy is left Grandad’s ‘magic’ love drum in his will and jokes that the family never believed in Grandads daft magic. However when they write and sing a new song together called ‘Shoulder’ some ‘love’ magic definitely seems to happen.

​The power of their relationship and music inspires their band, choir and care home residents. They all attend court to defend themselves against the court case and with the benefit of Dr Watson’s research and the live music testimony of the residents Dexy and Dru win the case.

act two

​Some many months later, Dru and Dexy and their band Drumojo are really flying raising money from their music and tours for Grandads cause, The Joseph Vincent Foundation. However the strains between them due to the heavy workload are starting to tell. They perform their hit single ‘Life is What You Make It’ at the Drammies Awards Ceremony.

Unfortunately Dexy steps out of line at the live performance and threatens the future of the band and the whole project. Dexy performs and edgy rap called ‘Look into Their Eyes’ that Dru thinks is too political for the show. Also Dexy now has a date for a hearing for her possible deportation from the country.

Unfortunately Dru and Dexy split up romantically and musically. Dru tries to go solo but it doesn’t work. Dr Watson and Dexy’s Dad have a plan to get them back together and they utilise the help of Grandad even though he is not alive! The residents of the care home and DrumChoir come together and surprise Dru and Dexy at an afternoon tea. They perform one of Grandads old songs and with the help of Grandads magic drum everyone feels the love and passion come back into the room. They feel his spirit. Dru and Dexy feel drawn back together and when they hear and see a message from beyond the grave they know they have lots of unfinished business.

Dru and Dexy and the band get back together and record the very song that Dexy rapped at the Drammies. This hits the right chord with people and it starts to bring them more success. However the Medexis appeal is back in the courts. However with fresh evidence Dru and Dexy win the case. In fact Miss Sarah Parkes provides some interesting evidence that the Professor and Smyth-Fogg have been colluding on price fixing on medicine sales to all of the countries care homes and as result lose their jobs. However Winston Cameron is also at the court buildings and he reminds  Dexy of her court date next month.
​
Dru, Dexy and band are invited onto Helen’s Chat Show. They get to talk about what happened and perform live the album version of their song ‘Shoulder’. Before they sing Helen then surprises Dexy with three things. One, Dexy’s Dad comes on stage two he has the magic love drum and three he has a letter which she can open after their performance. After the song to much applause, Dexy opens the letter to read that she has been given right to remain as a citizen of the country. It turns out that Winston Cameron had been creating fraudulent evidence and was in the pay of Byron Smythe-Fogg. There is one final surprise from Helen on the TV Show. The care home residents and the choir come on the set and she invites everyone to do a final number all together. In the end they have Beaten the System with drums, song and dance!   

about drumojo theatre

​On stage is where it all comes together and The Drumojo Theatre Group and Workshop is where the concepts are created, developed, produced and performed.

If a story needs to be told it can be told in words, in actions, with scripts as well as through drumming and music, song and dance.

The purpose of Drumojo Theatre is to enable workshop delegates to write original and collaborative performances and experiences that move the audience.

We deal with the technical aspects of sound and lighting as well as scriptwriting and acting. We welcome young and older people to get involved and together tell your story.