Author’s Page – The Play Musical

Author

SYNOPSIS — THE PLAY© (Book One of Fourteen in the series)

Sixteen-year-old Harry Groves didn’t grow up — he endured.
After losing his autistic sister, Sara, to the very people who were meant to protect them, Harry is left carrying more than grief. He’s carrying rage, shame, and the kind of silence that eats you alive. Years of neglect, chaos, and relentless bullying have taught him one rule:
don’t trust anyone. The only thing he’s got left of Sara is Bear — her battered, one-eyed teddy, small enough to hide, but heavy enough to break him every time he touches it.

Then Harry ends up with the one person who refuses to look at him like he’s already ruined:
Nan Mildred — a retired theatre performer with a sharp tongue, a fierce heart, and a faith strong enough to drag him back from the edge, whether he likes it or not

Living with Nan is different. Her tiny unit isn’t just a home… It’s a rehearsal room, a safe space, and the first place Harry’s ever felt like he can breathe without flinching. Nan teaches him how to stand up again — not perfectly, but bravely — and for the first time, Harry starts to believe his voice might actually matter.

Then Nan pushes him to do something bigger than just “get through school” …

He creates THE PLAY© — a student musical based on the real struggles teenagers live with every day. Not the watered-down version. The real version. The kind people avoid talking about until it’s too late.

The cast isn’t random. They’re the world Harry sees around him:

Aisha and Mustapha, targeted for their faith and skin colour
Johnny, a transgender boy fighting to exist without fear
Tommy, proud of his two mums — until the jokes start
Stacey, judged for her identity and sexuality
Oliver, body-shamed and treated like he’s invisible
Meena, carrying grief far too big for her age
Fazal, Jamal and Mick (Ex-Gang Members) labelled “trouble” before anyone listened
Claire and Laura, caught up in cyberbullying with consequences they never expected
Carla, living with disability and quiet strength
Jonesy and Liam, the bullies… until accountability finds them

What starts as a school project turns into something much bigger and powerful: a place where young people finally face the stuff tearing their lives apart — Youth Mental Health Struggles, Bullying And Cyberbullying, Antisocial Behaviour, Harmful Peer Influence, Exploitation Awareness, Gang Pressure And Knife Culture, Underage Drinking And Vaping, Truancy, Disrespect For Authority, And The Desperate Need For Identity And Belonging.

Because rehearsals don’t just build a show — they build people.

The loud ones calm down. The quiet ones step forward.
And the kids on the edge of gangs and violence start turning up for something different.

Then it happens.
Knives get dropped. Not out of fear — but because they’ve found something better: a place to belong, and a reason to change.

Music & Soundtracks – THE PLAY©

All original songs in the trailer, three of 18, are written by Brian S. Montgomery.

To support rehearsal and performance quality, the official backing soundtracks are recorded by professional vocalists as an example guide, giving cast members clear insight into timing, tone and delivery.

Importantly, a proportion of proceeds from book sales (TY and THE PLAY novels), as well as any purchased songs, are reinvested directly into the running costs of THE PLAY© Musical productions and Youth Mental Health Wellbeing Workshops, helping fund more shows, musicians, venues, and opportunities for young people.

Song One: THE PLAY SAVED ME ©

“THE PLAY SAVED ME” is the emotional centrepiece of THE PLAY© — an uplifting anthem of hope, belonging and early intervention. It speaks to young people who feel isolated, bullied, overlooked or written off, and shows how being part of something positive and structured can rebuild confidence and self-worth. Honest, moving and empowering, this song delivers one clear message: you are not alone, and your story is not over.

Song Two: REDEMPTION ©

“Redemption” is a high-impact rap track focused on accountability, second chances, and choosing a different path — even when the odds are stacked against you. It follows characters such as Fazel, Jamal and Mick, young men shaped by anger, reputation and gang influence, who make a decision that shocks everyone: they drop their knives and join THE PLAY. Not because change is easy, but because they are finally offered structure, purpose and belonging. Raw, fearless and empowering, “Redemption” highlights a powerful truth: when young people are given a real alternative, they can choose better.

Song Three: LAURA’S SONG © (Performed by Nan Mildred)

“Laura’s Song” is one of the most confronting and emotional moments in THE PLAY©. Performed by Nan Mildred, it gives voice to Laura’s trauma after relentless cyberbullying, when private images were taken and used to threaten and blackmail her. The shame and fear became so overwhelming that Laura nearly took her own life.

Laura cannot sing it herself — not yet — so Nan sings on her behalf, transforming silence into strength. Beginning as a fragile piano-led ballad, the song builds as the cast joins in support, turning pain into unity and survival into defiance. By the final chorus, the message is undeniable: what happened to Laura does not define her — and she is not alone.

“Laura’s Song” is not just a performance. It is a breakthrough.

TY is OUT NOW on Amazon & Ingram Sparks!

Youth mental health.

Knife culture.

Gang pressure.

Redemption.

Every sale supports THE PLAY© Musical shows.

Link in bio!

#TYBookLaunch #ThePlay #YouthSupport #StopKnifeCrime

TY SYNOPSIS “Ty,” By Brian Montgomery (Purchased on Amazon, Kindle and Ingrams)

Based on a successful real-life youth crime prevention program in Perth, Australia, created by the author, “Ty” is a book and a three-part TV drama that tells the fictional story of Tyrone Lewis, a resilient fourteen-year-old tough London Street kid. Born in jail to his fifteen-year-old addicted mother, Ty’s life has been marred by physical abuse, neglect, drug dealing, racism, mental health struggles, youth gangs, and the rising tide of knife crime.

Amidst the turmoil, Ty befriends a runaway pregnant teen abused by her brother. This unlikely friendship leads him into deeper trouble, culminating in his incarceration on various charges, including kidnapping a newborn baby found beside its dead mother in an alleyway.
Confronted with the harsh realities of the justice system, Ty’s sense of injustice— compounded by his experiences of racism and unfair treatment—fuels his resolve to fight back.

While in prison, Ty climbs the ranks to become a top dog, forming an unexpected bond with Spencer, a bullied transgender inmate who teaches him to read and write. Together, they create an unlikely alliance of misfits dedicated to eliminating makeshift weapons and drugs from within the prison and supporting other inmates with their mental health struggles. Ty’s ultimate mission is to reduce youth re-offending, promote safety, and eradicate the pervasive issues of knife crime, youth gangs, antisocial behaviour, racism, and homophobia.
Additionally, they aim to extend help to the elderly and disabled who feel like prisoners in their own homes.

However, standing in their way is a notorious Albanian drug kingpin who controls the drugs, human trafficking, and most of the youth gangs in London. The government’s special forces, led by Clive, enlist Ty and his crew to help take down this formidable adversary in exchange for special favours. Initially hesitant, Ty realises he has no choice but to accept the deal.

Upon their early release, Ty and his crew continue their excellent work outside prison, becoming local heroes known as the “HAY Patrollers” (Harmony Amongst Youth). They patrol shopping centres and other public spaces, significantly reducing youth crime while creating employment and training opportunities for multicultural street kids. Their efforts
aim to change young people’s behaviours and make communities safer places to live. However, Ty knows he cannot escape the deal he made with Clive.

“Ty” is a powerful narrative of struggle, redemption, and the fight for justice. It illustrates how even those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds can rise above their circumstances, transcending the cycle of violence to make a positive change for themselves, their community, and the future.

ABOUT THE CREATOR Brian S. Montgomery

Creator | Writer | Author | Executive Producer

Brian S. Montgomery is the creator of THE PLAY© — a youth-led musical and mental health wellbeing programme designed to support young people through early intervention, creativity, structure, and belonging.

Raised in South London, Brian’s early life was shaped by hardship. He experienced family breakdown, instability, and periods of homelessness. Like many young people growing up in survival mode, he was exposed to environments where violence, gangs, and fear became normalised. During those years, his dyslexia and mental health struggles went undiagnosed, and he faced addiction and the heavy consequences that often come with being unsupported and unheard.

Writing became the turning point. It gave Brian a way to make sense of what he had lived through — and to turn pain into something useful. His first self-published book, Degsy Hay: A Juvenile Redeemed (Amazon), reflects the reality of growing up in the system and the long road back from trauma, shame, and exclusion.

Over the past 30 years, Brian has built a respected professional career supported by strong qualifications, including a Master’s degree, a Graduate Diploma in Health and Safety (Edith Cowan University), a Graduate Certificate in Community Services, and diplomas in Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD). He is also a qualified Trainer and Assessor and holds Mental Health First Aid certification.

Alongside his professional work, Brian founded The Hay Patrollers — a youth crime-prevention and community-engagement initiative that supported at-risk young people through mentoring, accountability, and positive visibility in local communities.
(Find out more at www.brymonpromotions.com under Youth.)

A few years ago, Brian’s son experienced bullying, and it reinforced something Brian already knew from lived experience: a young person can be doing “fine” on the outside, while quietly falling apart inside. School pressure, online abuse, and social exclusion can damage confidence and mental health faster than most adults realise — and too often, support arrives late.

Brian began writing THE PLAY© to give young people a voice, and more importantly, a safer pathway forward. The programme tackles the real issues impacting young people today, including:

bullying and cyberbullying
youth mental health and emotional resilience
gang pressure and knife carrying
antisocial behaviour and early offending
underage vaping and alcohol use
identity, belonging, racism, and peer pressure

THE PLAY© is designed to be more than a performance. Young people don’t just watch it — they take part in it. They rehearse, learn discipline, build teamwork, and experience what it feels like to be part of something positive, structured, and real.

Importantly, THE PLAY© also creates space for change. Even young people who have caused harm — including bullies and young offenders — can be supported to take responsibility, rebuild identity, and earn trust through commitment and contribution.

A movement built to grow:

With limited funding available for preventative youth programmes, Brian is using his creative work to help sustain and expand delivery. His new releases — TY and the long-awaited THE PLAY novel (Book One of a planned 15-book series) — are designed not only to entertain, but to help fund future musical productions and workshops among young people 10-21 years of age.

To strengthen long-term sustainability, Brian is also developing opportunities to license and hire out THE PLAY©’s original soundtrack (18 songs) to support wider delivery and community impact.

Brian’s latest book, TY (Amazon & Ingram, 2026), continues the mission — turning lived experience into storytelling that challenges violence, highlights redemption, and reminds young people that a different future is possible.

Today, Brian is an author, speaker, and executive producer committed to creating real opportunities for young people — using creative arts to reduce harm, rebuild confidence, and strengthen communities.