What a week. My car has been in dock for three weeks and it's still not ready; there's been trouble with my Sky reception and I need my dose of the ATP Masters Tennis Championship; I have no food in the house, so I've got to walk across the Albert Bridge - and no, nothing has changed there since last I wrote. But thank goodness for musical theatre. Monday night: I'm full of nervous anticipation because I am seeing Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Well, it's "the next generation" up there on the stage and I love that score so much.... It proves an emotional evening. It's strange to hear the wonderful score and timeless songs, re-interpreted by a remarkable Josh Groban and an impressive Kerry Ellis. I start to reminisce. For me, the most magical part of the night is my reunion with Björn Ulveaus, Tommy Körberg and Tim Rice. Can it really be 24 years ago that we created that double album? It's a joy to hear the music again, and judging by the audience reaction, the game of Chess will be played for ever. By Thursday, I am thinking again about scores and lyrics: I meet up with another creative collaboration - "the next generation" of musical theatre songwriting partnerships - George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. I host the second in my Spotlight On conversational series at The Shaw Theatre in London and wonder at their excellent work, which they relish in playing and singing for us. This prolific pair, in case you don't know, were the grand finalists on ITV's New Faces, an early reality talent show, in 1987. They sang about the new food fad of the day, Nouvelle Cuisine. I'm told "the whole thing went down like a pork chop at a synagogue". But they have gone from strength to strength and now work in Hollywood. There must have been something about the early 80s; they were the class of '83 from Exeter University and celebrate 25 years together with what promises to be a great concert on July 6 at Her Majesty's Theatre, celebrating their music in aid of Mercury Musical Developments, a scheme I whole-heartedly approve of, encouraging new writers. I ponder on the lively and slightly bashful writing students sitting in The Shaw listening to Stiles and Drewe - yet another new generation. Were they even born in the 80s? Let's hope one or two of this class of 2008 will become tomorrow's Grandmasters of musicals. • Terry Wogan is away. | 
