A WEST Devon composer has finally got his big West End break with the imminent launch of a musical starring Three Degrees singer Sheila Ferguson. John Robinson has had a long hard struggle to get a London theatre interested in his musical ?Behind The Iron Mask?. But success is now within his grasp as the musical opens at the Duchess Theatre ? owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber?s Really Useful Company ? on July 20. John, who lives near Tavistock, and is the producer, wrote the music and lyrics of the show which is based on his own original idea. Rehearsals will begin on Monday at Sadlers Wells. ?From start to finish it has been a ten-year stint,? he says. ?It?s like everything else in life ? if it is worth doing it doesn?t come easy. But I always believed it would happen eventually.? John said ?Behind the Iron Mask?, although inspired by Alexandre Dumas?s story The Man in the Iron Mask?, does ?not in any way resemble other interpretations? of this episode in French history. ?It poses a novel and more dramatic possibility based on the torment of power, passion and freedom,? he said. The action takes place in a prison cell. One half, the prisoner?s, is luxuriously furnished, while the other, inhabited by the jailer, is crudely appointed and has an outside door. Due to an indiscretion by the jailer a beautiful gypsy becomes entrapped in the unfolding drama. ?Who now is the prisoner and who holds the power? That is the dramatic scenario the musical explores,? says John. Creating the musical for three performers makes it more viable as a production than a show with a very large cast. It also focuses audience attention on the power and passion of this intense story. John?s diversity of work embraces musicals, opera, dance, concert, revue and the setting to music of poetry, prose and religious writings. Work he has created includes the musical Lorna Doone; The World of Bidlake Wood, a ballet; Love, Lust and Lies, a musical theatre piece based on all Shakespeare?s plays, and Sir John?s Lot ? a musical revue based on Sir John Betjeman?s life and poems.