Bastille frontman Dan Smith is writing the music and lyrics for Young Romantics, a British musical exploring the famous 1816 Villa Diodati gathering. The production centres on key historical figures whose creative clash inspired gothic literature classics.

Dan Smith, lead singer and songwriter of Bastille, is penning the soundtrack for Young Romantics, a new musical currently in development. The show is set during a stormy week in 1816 at the Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva, following the lives of Mary Godwin, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont and Dr John Polidori.

The narrative details the group’s personal and creative struggles as they respond to Byron’s challenge to write a horror story, ultimately inspiring Frankenstein and The Vampyre. The story explores themes of ambition, romance, conflict, grief, trauma, and the pressures faced by young adults.

Smith emphasised the continued relevance of the tale, describing it as “youth on the edge of adulthood” grappling with hope, chaos, creativity, and societal expectations despite its historical setting over 200 years ago. He said the story contains “sex, fame, heartbreak, and horror stories,” yet also a deeper look at the characters’ attempts to understand themselves through art.

Producers Simon Friend and Hanna Osmolska of Melting Pot said they were “thrilled” to collaborate with Smith, calling his work on the project “artistically invigorating.” Smith’s credentials include not only Bastille hits but also collaborations with Hans Zimmer and music contributions to Planet Earth III and various film and TV projects.

Details on casting and production timelines for Young Romantics have yet to be announced. The production looks set to examine the intersection between history, literature, and youthful creativity through a contemporary musical lens.