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Post by zahidf on May 5, 2022 9:19:13 GMT
www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show-homepage/yeast-nation/A musical about Yeast, by the minds that brought you Urinetown. It is the year 3,000,458,000 BC. Living deep within the murk is the world’s very first life-form. Behold, The Yeasts! With food growing scarce and resources dwindling, The Yeasts are forced to stay true to The Strictures enshrined in law. But when one Yeast decides to break the rules and seek new possibilities, a new emotion changes all they have ever known….love. Urinetown creators Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann and cult director Benji Sperring (The Toxic Avenger: The Musical, Shock Treatment, Night of the Living Dead: Live) take you on a journey to the bottom of the sea to answer that burning question that musical theatre lovers and sceptics alike have been asking since the dawn of time: what would a musicalised story about the first single-celled organisms sound like? Part classic Greek drama, part bio-historical comedy musical, part bizarre fever dream, and all unique theatre experience, Yeast Nation shows that no matter your size, you have to dream big. Join Jan the Elder, Jan the Wise, Jan the Second, Jan the Sweet, Jan the Sly, Jan the – you get the idea, there are literally billions of them – this July at Southwark playhouse. Brilliant, bonkers, and brimming with brio, Yeast Nation is here to show you no matter your size, anyone can change the world Featuring numbers including “Stasis is the Membrane”, “Burning Soul”, and “You’re Not The Yeast You Used To Be”, the question on everyone’s lips is: Dear God why are you doing a show about Yeast? But the second, more important question is: Will the Yeast rise, or will it be a Yeasticide? Suitable for ages 11+.
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Post by cezbear on May 5, 2022 10:01:54 GMT
If yeast wasn't on the 'they shouldn't turn that into a musical' thread it possibly should have been! Interesting...
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Post by alece10 on May 5, 2022 10:09:03 GMT
All I can think of is yeast infections.
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Post by Seriously on May 5, 2022 10:26:53 GMT
Presumably a very "Marmite" show?
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Post by cezbear on May 5, 2022 10:28:59 GMT
Presumably a very "Marmite" show? Post of the year for me. |
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Post by stevejohnson678 on May 5, 2022 10:34:07 GMT
The musical announcement we were yeast expecting.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on May 5, 2022 11:25:40 GMT
If yeast wasn't on the 'they shouldn't turn that into a musical' thread it possibly should have been! Interesting... To be fair I imagine if you put the premise of Urinetown on that thread no one who hadn't seen it would bat an eye! |
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Post by Mark on May 5, 2022 15:17:50 GMT
Southwark showing again that they are the number one fringe theatre for Musical Theatre. This certainly sounds fun.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on May 5, 2022 17:15:12 GMT
Something to bear in mind when booking tickets if you're not a fan of audience interaction.
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Post by david on Jul 21, 2022 21:01:58 GMT
I’ve booked a front row seat for this tomorrow night. The show sounds crazy and the audience interaction peaked my interest. As long as I’m not asked to do another conga dance, I’m up for anything. Anyone else going or booked for future performances?
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 21, 2022 21:53:42 GMT
I’ve booked a front row seat for this tomorrow night. The show sounds crazy and the audience interaction peaked my interest. As long as I’m not asked to do another conga dance, I’m up for anything. Anyone else going or booked for future performances? I'm going this weekend. Urinetown is one of my fave shows; so very intrigued...! |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jul 21, 2022 22:41:24 GMT
Oh no, I didn't notice the audience interaction warning and have row A tickets  |
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Post by david on Jul 22, 2022 22:58:23 GMT
The tube ride back to my hotel has given me time to process tonight’s 1st preview. The only word can I come up with is bizarre to try and describe what I watched at the SWP. Having never seen Urinetown, I wasn’t too sure what to expect from creatives Hellmann and Kotis, but after the. 2hrs 40 minutes tonight there were some positives but overall I walked out of the theatre leaving with more questions than answers about this show and it’s book. Whilst the rock score was enjoyable to listen to and the cast of 8 did well, at times the music overpowered the vocals for me and despite having a front row seat it was difficult to make out lyrics at times. I couldn’t see where the 2 musicians (bass and percussion) where based, but I assume they where behind a cloth curtain on the stage. They never came out for the bows at the end. The biggest issue for me tonight was the book. It was just such a bizarre concept as a musical that maybe I was overthinking about the plot development that didn’t make much sense but if the creatives where trying to make any points, they completely went over my head. Whilst the book was bizarre, the whole show just sweeps you away with its silliness and certainly if you can buy into the show’s style and tone early on then you will probably get something out of this. What is to be applauded with this show is that in the programme notes from the Director during early talks about the show made the commitment that the cast is a 50/50 split of recent theatre graduates and more seasoned performers. I certainly felt all the cast were strong performers with good voices who will only grow stronger with more performances under their belts. With the set (what little there was) was basically 8 large grey cushions and a metallic podium along with a blank grey curtain at the back of the set. You don’t get any projections with this show to help set the different scenes. Full use if the auditorium is made in the show with the cast using the gangways amongst the seating for parts of the show so you may need to turn around at different points to see them. For the costumes, I can only describe them as Lycra outfits with bits of material attached. I’ll be brutally honest and say from where I was sat they did look very cheap and some of the material was already dropping off on tonight. I just got the impression that the show was done on a shoestring budget. There really isn’t anything fancy about this show. A quick mention about the audience interaction warning about this show. I am happy to report that if you are sat on rows A or B there isn’t anything to worry about and is very mild. I was sat in row A and had a couple of cast members singing in front or me with one even sitting next to me briefly but that is all. One guy behind me had to hold a prop briefly but that was it. There is no speaking or conga dancing in this one.  |
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Post by JJShaw on Jul 24, 2022 20:24:05 GMT
Interesting your programme says 2 hours but you stated it was 2 hr 40 mins, thats an awful lot of tightening up....?!
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Post by david on Jul 24, 2022 20:28:16 GMT
Interesting your programme says 2 hours but you stated it was 2 hr 40 mins, thats an awful lot of tightening up....?! I think we were slightly late starting on Friday night and im sure the interval was slightly longer than 15-20 minutes. When I looked at phone as I left the theatre it was around 10pm. |
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Post by catcat100 on Jul 24, 2022 20:39:18 GMT
so if any of you have missed your regular dose of hallucigens. Don't worry, just pop yourself down to the Southwark and you'll soon feel like you've had a lovely trip.
This is quite bonkers and most definitely in the right way. ok its rough round the edges, looks a bit cheap but its just starting its journey.
Possibly described as a rock opera/tradegy/political battle set billions of years in the past. It follows the lives of a number of yeasts, from both the ruling classes and lower down the scale. You really just have to go with the story and not think to hard. There is a moral in there which does come clear by the end.
They must have done something with the sound since First preview as I heard most of the songs and I'm usually terrible at hearing. and what songs they are, Great powerful belters to really get heart rate going. Probably could have done with a couple more slower ones.
The audience interaction is minimal and its fun, just don't sit middle of row a if you want to miss it. There is a bit of 4th wall breaking which adds to the craziness.
Oh did I forget glove puppets, there's lots of glove puppets.
Overall a really crazy couple of hours of Good songs, laughter and a strong sense of not really believing whats going on but leaving very happy.
4.5 stars
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Post by theoracle on Jul 24, 2022 20:47:18 GMT
I was at the matinee yesterday and had no idea what the plot was and thinking back, can't really remember any of the songs either... I remember sitting, not sure whether it was supposed to be funny or serious as the concept was so bizzare but the dramatic score suggested it was supposed to be a very compelling moment in the show. The cast are very good - Chris Howell sticks out a bit as Jan the elder but still manages to match the energy of the young cast. There were clearly many friends/followers of the show with huge cheering from some of the back rows. I saw a few people fall asleep during the performance and heard some laughing at moments where again I wasn't sure whether to laugh too or whether it would be inappropriate to. Will be keen to see what the critics make of this...
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 25, 2022 6:02:18 GMT
It sounds horrible.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 25, 2022 10:34:06 GMT
Probably a marmite show
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Post by Steve on Jul 26, 2022 22:52:00 GMT
Definitely a Marmite show, as it's lot less funny than you anticipate it will be (if you are familiar with the campy fun of "Urinetown") and it's not a show with instantly memorable songs. However, I loved it anyway: it's a truly eccentric, unique, loveably silly and commendably bold attempt at writing a metaphorical origin story for life of Earth in the form of a Rock Musical! Some spoilers follow. . . When I see Benji Sperring is the director, I expect to be laughing a lot, like in "the Toxic Avenger," or absolutely laughing my ass off, like in "Shock Treatment," but no, not really, as this is actually a cult rock musical type score, like "Hair," with a more semi-serious intent of telling the story of Life on Earth: what "Godspell" did for Christianity, this show hopes to do for "Evolution!" This is a Genesis story musical in which single cell organisms ("yeast" is really just a stand-in for the first life on earth) sing and dance in green lycra, in which Christopher Howell's Jan the Eldest orders his yeast subjects to stay the same and never change in "Stasis is the Membrane," but in which, like Eve in the Bible, temptation beckons to lure characters into "rising" up ("Let us Rise") and bringing on a future in which their boring Eden will be replaced with a much more threatening, yet much more interesting fight for survival, in which life must evolve or die. The song "Me Good," in which a new life form evolves, is an absolute highlight, which I won't spoil further, as you've really got to see it to appreciate it in all it's absurd silly seriousness and serious silliness! What you lose in laughs, you gain in originality. Another highlight for me was the song "Love Equals Pain," which also strikes a serious rock vibe, while being very silly at the same time. The performances I loved the most were: Sarah Slimani as Jan the Unnamed, who really captures both the silliness and seriousness (listen to how she roars the word "yeast" lol) and who has the most rousing voice, in my opinion; Hannah Nuttall, as Jan the Sweet, who really emotively gets into driving the rock plot elements and consequently delivers the most affecting performance; and Shane Convery as Jan the Wise, whose performance is dramatic, striking and unforgettable. All in all, this will alienate a lot of people, who will not find it funny enough, given it's absurd premise, and will find they can't internally sing along to any of it. But give the premise latitude to be all it aspires to be: a musical metaphor encapsulating evolution and all life on Earth, and the mesh of silliness and huge storytelling ambition will make this rock musical one to treasure and remember. 4 stars, easily, for me!  |
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Post by austink on Jul 27, 2022 13:08:16 GMT
A lot of aggressive one stars coming out on this.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 27, 2022 14:23:05 GMT
A lot of aggressive one stars coming out on this. Reckon this one will end early. Can't see people booking much after about 5 x 1 star reviews and 1 x 2 star review. |
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Post by Mark on Aug 3, 2022 22:00:37 GMT
Was there tonight and thought it was fun - total nonsense but fun all the less. It sounded fantastic and no problems hearing lyrics so definitely tightened up.
A cover was on for Jan the Unnamed on book - didn’t affect the show I didn’t think though.
Stephen Lewis-Johnston singing “I'll Change the World Around Her“ a definite highlight. Great song and he has a fantastic voice.
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Post by Steve on Aug 3, 2022 22:21:11 GMT
Was there tonight and thought it was fun - total nonsense but fun all the less. It sounded fantastic and no problems hearing lyrics so definitely tightened up. A cover was on for Jan the Unnamed on book - didn’t affect the show I didn’t think though. Stephen Lewis-Johnston singing “I'll Change the World Around Her“ a definite highlight. Great song and he has a fantastic voice. Yesterday, when I was in for "Tasting Notes," I saw a sign saying Sarah Slimani was off as Jan the Unnamed, which is a shame, as I loved her voice and attitude. On the other hand, the sign said that Jan the Unnamed would be played by the director, Benji Sperring, which I would have loved to see as well lol! Unless things changed in a day, you probably saw the director play the part. |
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Post by Mark on Aug 3, 2022 22:25:56 GMT
Was there tonight and thought it was fun - total nonsense but fun all the less. It sounded fantastic and no problems hearing lyrics so definitely tightened up. A cover was on for Jan the Unnamed on book - didn’t affect the show I didn’t think though. Stephen Lewis-Johnston singing “I'll Change the World Around Her“ a definite highlight. Great song and he has a fantastic voice. Yesterday, when I was in for "Tasting Notes," I saw a sign saying Sarah Slimani was off as Jan the Unnamed, which is a shame, as I loved her voice and attitude. On the other hand, the sign said that Jan the Unnamed would be played by the director, Benji Sperring, which I would have loved to see as well lol! Unless things changed in a day, you probably saw the director play the part. Yep, that was him! Well done to him, he did really well! |
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Post by JJShaw on Aug 4, 2022 21:52:13 GMT
Any offers for this one? I would like to catch it while its on
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Post by Mark on Aug 4, 2022 21:55:18 GMT
Any offers for this one? I would like to catch it while its on Definitely worth making the most of the Southwark Playhouse PAYG scheme. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Aug 8, 2022 22:16:29 GMT
I'd booked middle row A seats before I realised there would be audience interaction, but thankfully all me and my friend had to do between us was hold a prop/have some very intense eye contact or have some hand puppets on our knees. My friend got named Jan the Real and got a spotlight shone on him, but otherwise all good!
Enjoyed this more than I expected to - it really was quite bizarre, but you can't say the cast aren't giving it their all.
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Post by dlevi on Aug 8, 2022 23:30:25 GMT
Marmite indeed. I thought this show failed on every possible level . Sure it was bonkers, that didn't bother me. What bothered me was the lousy direction - even basic blocking was a mess. the hideous costumes which made little sense. the horrible sound where a two person band more often than not drowned out the performers ( some of the singing was simply awful) - really one of the worst shows I've seen in my life. B L E A H!
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 9, 2022 8:55:41 GMT
I saw this last week and rather enjoyed it, even with a script-in-hand narrator. Who could possibly not like seeing the stellar actor Chris Howell as the longest surviving creature in the universe and showing off his skills at hand puppetry?
The style of the music is very reminiscent of Urinetown and this a scientifically clever production.
With all that said, I can also see why this would never have a long life in a major theatre.
One to see while you have the chance. There are offers available, but the best deal (and choice of seats) comes through the PAYG scheme.
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