We sat down with some of the ensemble of Urinetown to chat about their favourite parts of the show, why they wanted to get involved, and why you should come see it.
What is the show about?
Jon Armstrong: The show is about pee. It’s a story of love, corruption, freedom, and revolution
Eleanor Sutcliffe: It’s about the consequences of when you deprive people of a basic human function. When the class divide gets so big and the bubble bursts, it’s about the chaos that ensues, and you have a love story with two people at the opposite ends of that bridge.
Helena Cornu: There are a lot of layers to Urinetown. When you first look at it it seems really silly and everything is over the top, but actually it says a lot about our society now and where we could end up if we don’t address the challenges that we’re currently facing.
Emily Legge: I think it’s about abuse of power, rebellion, and love. And musicals! It’s taken some really beautiful bits of other well-known musicals, and it’s so fun to spot those where they are referenced.
Lancia Wilson: This is a classic tale of the rich oppressing and taking advantage of the poor through a crisis. In this case: a climate crisis. The poor have had enough so, naturally, they are going to sing and dance about it. It’s simultaneously hilarious and poignant.
Why did you audition?
HC: I went to the preview evening, and after listening to the songs and the creative team’s vision, I was absolutely sold on doing it.
EL: I saw [Festival Players’ 2022 production of] Kinky Boots, and I thought it was such an amazing show and so well done, that I was really keen to audition for a Festival Players show. I thought Urinetown sounded so different to musicals I’d done before, and so quirky, and I really wanted to do it.
JA: I was the same, I thought Kinky Boots was magical, and one of the best shows I’d ever seen at the ADC, so I really wanted to do a Festival Players show. I’ve done Urinetown before and loved it then, so was invested straight away.
ES: I enjoy political satire, and I think this show is so clever. It landsits points without the audience ever quite realising.
LW: I’d heard of Urinetown through a friend who’d done it before. She said “if you ever get the change to do it, make sure you’re a part of it!” When I saw Festival Players were doing it, I couldn’t resist. I love it when companies do different styles of musicals.
What’s your role within the show?
ES: I’m in the ensemble, playing Billie Girl Bill, one of the poor that joins the rebellion.
EL: I play one of the poor who frequents Public Amenity #9, who’s generally in a state of panic throughout the show.
HC: I play multiple roles in the ensemble, including the illustrious UGC Exec #2. The most exciting part of my show is the ending. I have an enemies-to-friends arc with Emily’s character which you should spot if you pay attention!
JA: I play Hot Blades Harry, who is also in the ensemble. He’s been driven pretty insane by the events leading up to the show, and is hell-bent on revenge.
LW: I have the honour of playing Soupy Sue. She’s a wreck, constantly on the edge, and potentially has a slight crush on the leader of the revolution, because who doesn’t?!
What’s your favourite part of the show?
LW: I love the very opening of the show. Audiences will be immediately hooked. I also love the incredible dance numbers.
ES: I love Justin [Murray, the director]’s vision for it. He’s come into this very influenced by classics, and has blended it with loads of contemporary films that he loves. My favourite number is Snuff That Girl, I love the energy of it, they’re revving themselves up to commit a terrible crime, and the choreography is brilliant and reminiscent of West Side Story.
JA: The creative team have all brought their incredible talent and skill to this, and have put together a musical that might not be considered your typical musical. It’s so much fun, and something different for the audiences to enjoy. I also love Snuff That Girl, it’s so powerful. For me, the funniest character is Little Sally. She breaks the fourth wall throughout the the show, and Catriona [who plays her] has great chemistry with Matt Wilkinson, who plays Officer Lockstock.
ES: They’re such contradictory characters, so they play off each other really well. The whole show has so many laughs in it that we’re struggling to keep a straight face in rehearsals, so the audience should love it.
HC: The show highlights and parodies all of your favourite musical theatre genres. We’ve got an incredible villain who’s brilliantly portrayed.
ES: We’ve got them all, we’ve got the baddie, we have a dashing, handsome hero, we’ve got romance, and friendship, all coming together to tackle this big demon.
EL: My favourite part of the show is the act 1 finale. I get real One Day More [from Les Mis] vibes from it. There’s the tension of the love story, the rebellion bubbling up, and the rich entering a power struggle that they don’t expect. The show has such brilliant dark humour, and Justin’s really helped us play into awkward moments, allowing the audiences to fill in the gaps themselves. There’s such a beautiful tension in that.
JA: It’s not a musical that’s super well known, and sometimes those turn out to be the best because they surprise you. This is a story about something that could really happen, so it’s absolutely one to watch, and I love that we get to tell it.
Urinetown
01 - 10 June 2023, 7.45PM
10 June 2023, 2.30PM
ADC Theatre
Get your tickets here!
Read more about the show in our previous blog post here.