From spotlight to storybook: Portsmouth theatre duo debut magical Christmas adventure book

Living within five minutes of each other and sharing a lifelong passion for theatre and storytelling, the pair have transformed their creative partnership into a brand-new festive adventure for young readers.

The origins of the book date back to Alan Pring’s earlier work, an action song book for young children titled Rocking Rolling Ferry. Featuring sixteen original songs in a variety of styles, the collection was performed widely at Portsmouth Schools Music Festival events at Portsmouth Guildhall during Alan’s tenure as Director.

The songs later became the foundation for a larger creative project when Alan invited long-time musical theatre collaborator Paul Tully to help build a narrative around them.

Together, they developed a full musical titled Henry’s World, now fully orchestrated and ready for schools, youth groups, and colleges to stage. Inspired by the strength of the musical’s libretto, the duo embarked on shaping the story into a children’s novel, a process they describe as an immensely enjoyable and constructive year of creativity.

Their extensive backgrounds in theatre, Alan as director and musical director, Paul as a distinguished singer and leading actor, were invaluable in crafting vivid characters, emotional depth, and a strong sense of adventure. Their many years working with young people also helped ensure the book speaks directly and meaningfully to today’s younger audiences.

Henry Casey Saves Christmas follows the magical journey of ten-year-old Henry, who travels back in time with his father to save their family home from demolition. Along the way, they meet a host of extraordinary historical figures, including Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Charles Dickens, and Santa Claus himself, each playing a part in helping Henry save his family’s Christmas.

While full of fun, humour, and festive spirit, the book also touches on important contemporary issues such as inequality, conservation, climate change, and the consequences of overusing the planet’s resources. These themes make it not only an entertaining read but also a valuable educational tool for both individual readers and schools.

At its heart, the story is a warm exploration of the bond between a young boy and his father. Set against the backdrop of Christmas, it delivers a strong feel-good message while offering thoughtful insights for children navigating the world around them.

The authors reveal that this is just the beginning. Henry Casey Saves Christmas is the first instalment in a planned trilogy exploring Henry’s world, friendships, and family. Book two is already well underway, with the plot mapped out and new characters and adventures taking shape as Henry continues to grow and face the joys and challenges of school life.

About the book

Time travel, magic keys, dungeons, and wild imagination. Action-packed Henry Casey Saves Christmas has all these things, and much more...

Ten-year-old Henry wants to have a better relationship with his workaholic father, whose poor business decisions threaten the Casey family with eviction from their home on Christmas Day at 4pm, that is until they receive help from a mysterious stranger. Follow Henry’s exciting time travelling adventures as he and his father attempt to save their home. Plunged into Dickensian London and The Tower of London, during the time of Henry VIII, can they find answers in time? - The clock is ticking and their timeship is failing. The reader is kept in suspense until the very last page.

This is the first novel in what is expected to be a trilogy of stories following the thrill-packed life of Henry Casey. It is collaboration between Alan Pring and Paul Tully and is their maiden novel.

About the Authors

Alan Pring worked extensively in musical theatre for over fifty years after graduating from Trinity College, London where he studied trumpet, and composition. His method books for young brass players are widely used. Alan lives in Portsmouth, England, very close to his writing partner, Paul.

Paul Tully is a published academic and educational researcher, with thirty years working in education and teaching, including a national-facing role as an education policy director. He has a PhD in education and writes about teacher professionalism and wellbeing.

Henry Casey Saves Christmas is available for pre-order from Amazon soon, fully released in January.