When people learn about my musical, they often ask, "What inspired you to tell your story?"

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As a child, I grew up in a small village nestled in the fens of Suffolk, England.

 

Every autumn, a Romani family would set up camp just outside our village, staying until spring before moving on—only to return when the leaves fell again. They frequented the general store across the street from our house, arriving in a horse-drawn wagon that rattled loudly down the street. They would also comb our neighborhood, knocking on doors to ask for spare items. As a young child, I watched them with absolute wonder.

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One year, my parents went on vacation to Greece for a long weekend, leaving us in the care of our next-door neighbor’s daughter, Janet.  Janet’s family were military and they were already preparing to leave England for the United States.

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One afternoon, a sudden knock echoed through the house. Janet opened the door to reveal an elderly Romani woman wearing a multi-colored dress, a large headscarf, and vibrant strings of gold beads around her neck.

She froze, staring intently at Janet.

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"May I help you?" Janet asked.

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The woman replied, "You are going on a very long journey. And soon."

 

Surprised, Janet answered, "Yes, actually, I am."

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Without asking for a single handout, the woman abruptly turned and left.

 

Janet closed the door, turning to my sister and me with a puzzled look and said, "Well, that was strange."

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Ever since that day, a single question has haunted me: How did she know?  Was it a coincidence, fate, or something else entirely?

 

That exact moment became the spark for my storytelling, and ultimately, the inspiration for my musical.