The story is one that is close to Joe’s heart...

The debut theatre production of a much-loved Sheffield musician is set to go out on a Yorkshire tour - marking a creative change of lane for the much-loved Sheffield creative.

‘How Could I Forget?’ is the new theatre play from Milburn frontman Joe Carnall Jnr which is set to grace the stages in God’s Own Country following a sold out debut performance in 2025.

“It’s a musical, which is a big departure for me,” Joe said. “It’s sort of a love letter to my grandparents, well grandparents in general. It’s a story about a man, who you realise early on has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.”

Blending heartfelt storytelling, sharp northern humour and original songs, this intimate actor-musician show explores memory, family and connection through live music.

The story revolves around Billy, a young man beginning to navigate his way through the world, all while his Alzheimer’s afflicted grandfather Jack rapidly fades away.

“There’s no secret about that,” Joe explains. “It starts with the end. It’s a story about life, big themes, a big-themed musical… but there are no jazz hands.”

Speaking on his debut theatre musical, Joe Carnall said: "It starts with the end. It’s a story about life, big themes, a big-themed musical… but there are no jazz hands.” | Iconic Media

placeholder image — Speaking on his debut theatre musical, Joe Carnall said: "It starts with the end. It’s a story about life, big themes, a big-themed musical… but there are no jazz hands.” | Iconic Media

The narrative jumps between both past and present, with different decades revisited through the medium of the living room piano, a central element and key pivot for what is ultimately a rich musical journey, across multiple genres of folk, indie and soaring ballads – a tonally emotive reflection on life’s memories, relationships and more.

And the story is one that is close to Joe’s heart.

He said: “The story was inspired by my own grandad who passed around 12 years ago now. I’ve seen it all, I’ve been there, I witnessed it.”

‘How Could I Forget?’ is the debut theatre play from Joe Carnall Jnr (formerly of Milburn and Reverend & The Makers). | Provided

The impact of loss and mourning is often forged into creative inspiration, something he says “planted the seed” for the show after his grandad died when Joe was in his early teens.

“I didn’t think the next day that I’d write a musical about it.”

A few years after grandad’s passing, Joe watched a documentary about country singer Glen Campbell, famed for ‘Wichita Lineman’ and ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ who was sadly diagnosed with dementia, and the seed began to grow.

Campbell’s finale was called The Goodbye Tour, a 151-date tour across North America and the UK, an emotional farewell series of performances where his immense emotional battle with Alzheimer's was all too apparent.

“He could play an incredible guitar solo and then go to introduce his band, his own family, and he couldn’t remember their names,” Joe said. “It was just the magic of it and the music.

“It’s not only music. There are other things that connect, it could be a football shirt, taste or even the smell of something. But music just has such a romantic quality to it.”

It’s in the most innocuous of moments that spark memories for people afflicted with this disease, however fleetingly, a sentiment that Joe is all too aware of.

“When we had the previews last year at the drama studio that’s what made people really connect with it,” he said.

“I think we have a responsibility to do it justice,” Joe says as he emphasises the importance of telling a story against the backdrop of subject matter that can impact so many. “You are dealing with so many people’s lives. There are people who will be there that have or are dealing with this. You’ve got to do it - not necessarily kindly or gently - but accurately.

“It’s important for me to stress that this show is not ‘come and have a cry’. It’s cathartic in a way. It’s about moving forward, about what people leave behind. It’s about legacy, and it’s a celebration of life.

“I wouldn’t want people to be put off, it’s a good night at the theatre with big-hearted themes within it.”

Joe’s debut musical will begin its Yorkshire tour at The Playhouse at The Crucible, Sheffield, on October 9 and 10.

Tickets for this are already sold out, however there are still tickets (at the time of writing this) available for October 21, 2026 in the Barnsley Civic.

You can also book tickets for the remaining seats for shows at Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds and Hull Truck Theatre.

For further information on performance dates, ticket availability and more go to: https://www.hcifmusical.co.uk/