“Which is the worst fate: the death penalty, or a life in prison?”
The Bet is a dark, musical fable based on the short story by Anton Chekhov, exploring the balance of quality versus quantity of life.

A young banker and lawyer meet at a party and find themselves trapped in a heated argument about whether the death penalty or a life sentence is a more humane punishment. In order to resolve their differences, they agree to a bet – the banker will stake his money, and the lawyer will stake fifteen years of his freedom. The story follows the men over these fifteen years as their bet unfolds, and exploring the question: how much is your freedom worth?

This is a brand new musical with book, music and lyrics by Ellen King produced as a part of Brum Fest 2026