News from a substantial musical! I wanted to bring Daily Sceptic readers up to date on the recent production of our lockdown-sceptical show, Scotch Egg, and to thank you for your support.
There were five performances of Scotch Egg at the Playground Theatre in London last week, with strong box office numbers throughout. The show caught the attention of the press and we were interviewed by Sky News on Saturday morning, which contributed to a packed house for both the Saturday matinee and evening performances. A link to the clip is here.
Most pleasing was the audience reaction; the show veers between satirical comedy and pathos as it examines the absurdity and human cost of lockdown. For instance, the up-beat number “Drama”, (which features a rap battle between Boris and Chris Whitty at one of the 5pm press briefings) is followed later by a song sung by Death called “You Can’t Cancel Me”. The poignant “Fading Away”, (sung by an old man trapped in a nursing home, unable to see his wife of 50 years) is followed by the comedic skewering of Big Pharma in “Vaccine Cowboys”.
Not all our audience members shared our view of the pandemic but, across the board, they were able to join together to laugh at the idiocy and cry at the damage done. It was particularly good to chat to a group of NHS workers who had travelled down from the Midlands especially to see the Saturday show. I was moved by their heartfelt thanks in the bar afterwards. One senior nurse urged us to tour the show because “it’s funny but it’s also important. More people need to see it”. Another thanked us for telling the story “that we couldn’t tell”. In addition, it was also obvious to all that our young professional cast fully engaged with the show’s message, as they fizzed with enthusiasm throughout. All in all, it was a crazy but successful week. We are now hoping to attract a producer to take the show to its next stage – there is an audience, happy to pay good money to hear the message. So any contacts out there, please get in touch!
Here’s a tweet from one satisfied customer.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.
I’m looking forward to the follow up, The Prime Minister and the Entire Cabinet Impaled on Spikes on Westminster Bridge – The Musical
When do the tickets go on sale?
Just as soon as I’ve finished sharpening these wooden sticks
How about Kim Jong Johnson vs Frank Bruno?
A co-(vid)production with Andrew Lloyd Whassisname? Lyrics by Tim Starchysubstance.
Maybe a tadge off topic, but I had the most amusing, and also the most telling, exchange with the owner of a pub about a scotch egg. Trying to get a pint without ordering a three course meal (back in the day when Covid could only attack you if you hadn’t ordered food) I tried to defuse the situation by mentioning that perhaps I could have a nice scotch egg with my pint. The landlady then went on a full five minute tirade about how a scotch egg was definitely not a ‘substantial meal’. I actually learnt a lot about people from that one 5 minute exchange. More than I had in my previous 49 years. That actually set me up for the rest of the irrational nonsense that followed. The power of a scotch egg!
Propaganda works. Acceptance is much easier than thinking.
Good theatre/cinema is very effective propaganda. Bravo to all those involved; and let there be more of it.
P.S. I do like the sound of your musical. Were you thinking of a sort of Life of Brian crucifixion scene, or did you have something like Les Mis in mind? I rather fancy a new version, called The Miserables. It would start with misery and end with a sort of V for Vendetta triumph.
Also a tad OT, but I watched Have I got a Bit More News for You last night. This was the extended version of the most recent episode, so current then. Not historic.
All the participants were STILL sitting in between perspex screens. I thought Covid had been declared to be over.
Does BBC wish it wasn’t? Is it still trying to perpetuate the fear among its audience members?
I was in Durham yesterday, they have a lot of chinks at the uni there. 90% of them at least were wandering around in face nappies. This was not happening before the pandemic.
And they complain when we comment that they all look alike!
Many Asian I suspect!
Plenty of small theatres in Scotland that need some trade, and a populace that needs a kick up their fundament. Hopefully the Scotch egg will travel that far….
One hopes that the witty lyrics are more discernible than those that I hear in BBC radio shows that include ‘comic songs’. These are invariably performed by those whose talents don’t include a good voice or clear enunciation, which makes the whole enterprise rather pointless.
Please let us know when future performances are taking place!