What If?

A moving, entertaining and ever-changing story with song at its soul – where you decide what happens next!

What If? is a play and song recital combined – with a twist. At pivotal moments in the story, you – the audience – vote to decide what the protagonist should do, changing the plot and musical programme.

Set in 1914, What If? features multiple characters acted and sung by baritone Kieran Rayner, with piano and sound effects played by Gamal Khamis. Our story explores love, loss, friendship, war, and women’s suffrage, all while giving the audience agency over the direction of the narrative.

Whichever paths are picked, we guarantee a fulfilling and uplifting experience: an entertaining script connecting a rich selection of German and English songs, including Schubert, Robert and Clara Schumann, Ethel Smyth, Butterworth, and Finzi, alongside contemporary composers. 

We developed What If? with the support of Samling Institute for Young Artists and the Hugo Burge Foundation. It was selected for a highly-contested ‘Samling and Song’ residency, during which we worked intensively with actor and dramaturg James Garnon to sculpt the show into its final form. What If? promises a new art song experience: an exciting combination of traditional song recital and interactive storytelling. We are now delighted to be collaborating with director Guido Martin-Brandis, to create a truly unforgettable premiere.

This show has grown out of our partnership as an established song duo, Kieran’s experience as a writer, opera singer and actor, and Gamal’s work on recording projects which combine song and narrative. Together, we are creating a new way for audiences to experience the dramatic power of song.