Shannon Matthews The Musical is blasted as 'sick' and 'out of order'

An astonishing musical movie based on the disappearance of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews that horrified the nation is set to be released next month.

Dark comedy group K*** and the Gang sold out a four-week run of 'Shannon Matthews: The Musical' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022. 

Now, a film based on the show will been released by the brazen singer-song writers with tracks such as 'Shannon Ain't Dead (She's under me bed)', 'You're A Paedophile' and 'Karen Calls The Maddie Hotline'.

Shannon's kidnapping was part of a money-grabbing plan hatched by her mother Karen Matthews with her co-conspirator Michael Donovan, 54, keeping the nine-year-old in his council flat for 24 days.

Police eventually found Shannon in the drawer of a divan bed a few miles from her home estate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, where she went missing on February 19, 2008.  

A post on the filmmakers; website says 'it's taken f***ing ages but hopefully all the work and waiting has been worth it'.

How Britain's 'worst mother' tried to fake the kidnapping of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews and pocket the £50,000 reward

Schoolgirl Shannon Matthews was the victim in a faked kidnapping by 'Britain's worst mother' Karen Matthews in 2008, who had plotted to pocket a £50,000 reward.

Then a nine-year-old, she was kidnapped by her own mother who had planned to generate money from the ensuing publicity. 

They had planned for Donovan to release Shannon at Dewsbury Market, 'discover her', and then take her to a police station and claim a £50,000 reward.

The missing schoolgirl was found drugged, tied up and hidden in the base of a divan bed in West Yorkshire - 24 days after she disappeared.

Matthews and her then boyfriend Michael Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

Karen Matthews was released from prison in April 2012 after serving just half her sentence. She was given a new taxpayer-funded identity and home.

She is banned from seeing Shannon and her other children, who were put in care. 

In 2020 it was announced that kidnapped Shannon Matthews and her siblings would be granted lifelong anonymity after the High Court granted an 'extraordinary' injunction.

The sweeping order prevents their new names, addresses and jobs from ever being revealed or published unless a court agrees, court documents show.

The film, which will be available to stream on November 15, has a 9 out of 10 rating on IMDB.

One fan wrote: 'I can honestly say this was the funniest film I have ever seen. 

'I was lucky enough to watch it at the premiere and I cannot wait to see it again. The acting, singing and the detail of the sets were brilliant.'

Another added: 'The film really brought the story to life and gave the audience a clear insight into the characters. 

'Despite the daft subject matter- the film was well researched, well acted and well produced.'

K*** and the Gang's film description reads: 'West Yorkshire's worst case of absolute stupidity is brought to the silver screen for the very first time. You can now split your sides at a comedy, about a drama, that once split the population of Dewsbury.' 

However, the group, who infamously tried to launch their foul-mouthed jingle 'Boris Johnson is a f***ing c**t' to the top of the UK Christmas Singles chart, have faced fierce criticism over production.

Its most outspoken critics include Dewsbury's Tory MP Mark Eastwood, who helped in the search for missing Shannon in 2008, and local Labour councillor Mussarat Pervaiz who blasted the show's trivialisation as 'disgusting'.

Dewsbury West Councillor Ammar Anwar has said the musical is 'bang out of order' and 'should have never been allowed'.

He said: 'Just imagine being that poor girl Shannon Matthews, and re-living the ordeal all over again.

'I think they are cruel and sadistic movements for her to live again.

'I think people should let her move on in life, and let her forget about what happened in the past.'

Janet Ayre posted on Facebook: 'This is a sick joke, why would anyone make a musical about anything so horrendous?

'Further, why would anyone in their right minds go to see it?'

K**t and the Gang describe the musical as 'a fictional representation based on research from previous media publications.' 

The group have previously sold t-shirts that say 'Have you seen Shannon Matthews the musical' on, with a cartoon picture of Shannon. 

Nine-year-old Shannon was kidnapped by Matthews and Donovan, who planned to generate money from the publicity in 2008.

They had planned for Donovan to release Shannon at Dewsbury Market, 'discover her', and then take her to a police station and claim a £50,000 reward.

After a major search, the schoolgirl was found hidden in the base of a bed in a grotty flat just a mile away from her home in Dewsbury. 

On December 4, 2008, mother-of-seven Karen and Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

Both were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to eight years behind bars.

The film will be available to stream on Amazon, iTunes and Google Play and there are also seven live shows planned for December across the UK from York to London.