The Producers: UCL's upcoming show
I sat down with Jenny-Ann Windbrake, the producer of ‘The Producers’, to discuss the Bloomsbury Theatre’s upcoming show. Having bid for the show last February, the musical will finally be performed on its one year ‘bidding anniversary’ from the 22nd-24th of February. And it’s fair to say that UCL is in for a treat…
‘The Producers’ centres on two business partners and their attempt to make a quick buck by putting on the ‘worst show in history’. As you can imagine, tomfoolery ensures. Both buffoons embezzle copious sums of cash from the rich and famous and solidify the play’s failure by hiring a lavishly camp man to direct a show based on none other than Adolf Hitler. In short, Mel Brooks ridicules the entirety of the musical theatre industry in the most absurd way possible. I’m sure you weren’t prepared for such an eclectic resumé either.
After digesting the brief description provided, it was clear that the themes have the capacity to offend. However as Jewish Director Mel Brooks eloquently expressed : “if you trade rhetoric with a dictator you never win ... But if you ridicule them, bring them down with laughter, they can't .” In anticipation of the show, and in light of the recent political events, the cast and crew took it upon themselves to organise a workshop with Michael Berkowitz, Professor of Modern Jewish History at UCL, to contextualise the show and the various themes at play for all those working on it. It was equally an excuse to ‘fangirl’ over the dazzling work of Mel Brooks.
Additionally, UCL Musical Theatre Society have taken measures to modernise the play by casting gender and colour-blind. This adjustment will not only reflect UCL’s diverse community but will add a further element of irony when considering the play’s themes. In fact, Producer Jenny-Ann Windbrake expressed that “We decided to cast the leads gender reversed in an attempt to modernise this timeless musical and adapt it to the diverse community here at UCL. We also believe that it adds another layer of comedy to the play, considering the play is a satire about the Musical Theatre Industry, which until recently was, and arguably still is, a rather male-dominated industry.” It is evident that the ‘real’ producer Jenny, alongside Director Joshua Moore, considered every detail of the performance which will only serve to make the production as hilarious and sardonic as Brooks intended.
Let’s not forget Musical Director Sam Spears and Choreographer Alexis Rendel, who have equally had their work cut out for them. Every aspect of the production is live and student-led, from music to set design, only confirming the dedication and talent of the UCL team.
So if you’re looking to escape the monotony of academia for an evening, why not escape to Bloomsbury Theatre for a night of complete farce. The show will be on for three nights only, from the 22nd-24th February, so be sure to book your tickets now! Additionally, the team have organised a pre show Q&A talk on Friday 23rd from 17:00-18:00 with the production team, Student Unions’ Head of Intercultural Engagement, and UCL academics. For only £2 a ticket, you will be enlightened on the show's significance, considering the current political landscape, as well as the artistic choices made by cast and crew. So, if you’re looking for a hilariously comedic, camp and captivating evening at the theatre, look no further.