The co-creator of The Play That Goes Wrong has taken on one of theatre’s biggest challenges with his first original musical. Ian Cheeseman reviews Thespians at HOME Manchester.
Ambition is a very fitting word to describe everything Ashton-under-Lyne’s theatrical genius Jonathan Sayer gets involved in.
Sayer is one of the creators of Mischief, the company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, a production that became a smash hit on Broadway and has now been delighting West End audiences for more than a decade. As co-chairman of Ashton United FC, he already has plenty on his plate, but his latest venture sees him branching into musical theatre with a story about the origins of acting itself.
You can’t get much more ambitious than that.
Thespians tells the story of Thespis, the legendary figure often credited as the world’s first actor, and explores the birth of theatre through a humorous and heartfelt lens. Sayer has written the book and lyrics, with music provided by Ed Zanders, and together they have created a show that combines comedy, emotion and plenty of theatrical imagination.
Speaking to me on the launch night at Manchester’s HOME, Sayer admitted the experience has been both exciting and nerve-racking.
“We’re nine weeks in and initially I was quite nervous, but I think the fact I’m not actually in it makes it a much more nerve-racking experience,” he said.
“Me and Ed, who wrote this, have had such a good time and the cast are amazing. Like a lot of Mischief shows, it’s full of heart. There are some old-school Broadway musical numbers and some heartfelt songs.
“I’ve learnt a lot working with Ed. He says it’s like telling the story and feeling the emotions through music.”
One of the attractions of the subject matter, Sayer explained, is that so little is actually known about Thespis.
“Not a lot is known about Thespis and so there are a lot of places I can take it. I think of it as a sort of Flintstones-esque way of visiting Ancient Greece.
“The story is about the start of acting but I see it, most significantly, as the birthplace of empathy and that’s what we all need and what theatre is all about.”
That sense of fun and imagination runs throughout the production. A particularly charming touch came during the interval, when the background music featured Greek-language versions of popular songs, including Summer Nights from Grease.
As for the performances, there is plenty to enjoy. Marc Pickering is brilliantly funny as Adonis and delivers many of the evening’s biggest laughs, while Allie Dart brings infectious energy and warmth to the role of Rhapsodes. In truth, however, there isn’t a weak link in the cast. Everyone plays their part in making the world of Ancient Greece feel vibrant, accessible and entertaining.
It’s also pleasing to see HOME, one of Manchester’s most welcoming and creative venues, hosting the final stop on the show’s current tour. The theatre feels like a natural fit for a production that combines originality with a willingness to take creative risks.
Whether Thespians can go on to match the phenomenal success enjoyed by other Mischief productions remains to be seen. That’s a very high bar for any show to clear. However, what is clear is that Jonathan Sayer’s first foray into musical theatre is packed with charm, imagination and heart.
For anyone who loves theatre, and especially for those curious about where acting itself began, Thespians offers something refreshingly different.
Thespians
HOME Manchester
Until Saturday 18 July
Tickets: https://homemcr.org/production/thespians/