A musical. About Boris. Yes, that Boris. Need I say more?
Well, I’m going to anyway because boy was this fun to photograph! Boris the Musical had already had a few shows before I was asked to snap some production shots, and I had heard only good things, but I still went in with a certain amount of scepticism. A comedy musical about politics is a risky thing. Particularly when the main character is almost a real life caricature; a walking satire. How do you build on that without either rehashing what’s already been said by and about him, or going overboard and making your audience groan? Blowfish Theatre have mastered it. The script, the lyrics, the melodies, the characterisation… the talent behind this show sings out. I felt stupid for ever having doubted this could be anything but a hit. I kept having to snap myself out of laughter having got caught up in the hilarity and forgotten I have a camera in my hands and a job to do!
This show has everything: a cast with boundless energy, a live on-stage band, characters you love to hate, a gospel song about Brexit, parodies of well known melodies mixed in with the original songs, and lyrics you’ll want to memorise so you can sing them at (in)appropriate moments.
When the show was over, I was pretty disappointed to discover they had no present plans for more shows in Sheffield in the near future. As much as I had loved being on stage and in amongst the action for the tech rehearsal (the perks of theatre photography) I wanted to see it from the audience, without a camera in front of my face. However, they have just announced that they are now doing two more shows at the Library Theatre in Sheffield later this month! Rejoice! If you’re in Sheffield on the 20th or 21st December, head to www.boristhemusical.com to reserve your tickets (it’s free to reserve, and pay what you feel on the night). And if not, you can follow them on Twitter (click here) and Facebook (click here) to keep an eye out for future shows in your area! In the meantime, here’s a taste of what the show has to offer…
DAVID RAPHAEL BURCHHARDT HAS THE ELASTIC FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, NONSENSICAL WAFFLE AND UNWAVERING SELF-BELIEF OF THE TITLE ROLE DOWN TO A TEE.
SARAH VALLETTA MAKES A PERFECTLY POMPOUS AND INSUFFERABLE CAMERON
LIZ MCKEARNEY PORTRAYS AN UNNERVINGLY SLIMY AND DETERMINED MICHAEL GOVE WITH BUCKETS OF ENERGY
BREXIT GOES GOSPEL…
DIRECTOR KYLE WILLIAMS TAKES ON SOME OF THE SMALLER ROLES WITH GUSTO
BORIS AND HIS HELMET…A DRAMATIC CLIMAX TO THE SHOW
THE SHOW HAS AN AGE RESTRICTION OF 14+
THE BAND ARE ONSTAGE FOR THE ENTIRE PERFORMANCE, MAKING THE SHOW AN OBVIOUS (RIDICULOUSLY TALENTED) TEAM EFFORT
See some of my other theatre and performance photography by clicking here, here or here.