The production will have its world premiere at the Birmingham Rep on the 1st February.
As rehearsals begin for the world premiere of Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image Saves the World, a first look at the creative team assembled together has been released to mark the occasion.
The creative team behind the production includes: Director Sean Foley, Creative Puppet Director Roger Law, Set Designer, Alice Power, Video Designer Nina Dunn, Sound Designer Paul Groothuis, Lighting Designer Tim Mitchell, Costume Designer Lotte Collet, Choreographer Lizzi Gee, Composer Felix Hagan, Production Manager John Rowland, Associate Director Nyasha Gudo, Associate Sound Designer Simon King, Assistant Set Designer Catherine Morgan, Puppet Casting Director Mikey Brett, Executive Producer for Birmingham Rep Chloe Naldrett, General Manager Emma Brunjes, Production and Executive Producers Richard Allen-Turner and Jon Thoday for Avalon.
With a plot more improbable than the last year of British politics! Join the iconic Spitting Image puppets in this world premiere as they grace the stage for the very first time.
World famous celebrities are thrown together as Tom Cruise is tasked by King Charles with saving Great Britain. Greta Thunberg duets with Stormzy as Putin and Xi watch on from their premium seats in the stalls.
The puppeteers for the production are set to include: Will Palmer, Tom Quinn, Katie Bradley, Rayo Patel, Paula Brett, Jojo Lin, Kaidan Dawkins, Chand Martinez, Pena Liyambo, Faye Weerasinghe, Bertie Harris and Helen Parke. The voice over artists will be announced next month.
Sean Foley said: ‘Trying to develop a satirical comedy based on the shifting politics of today has been the original fool’s errand: we’ve already thrown away 3 entire scripts – and several famous puppets aren’t even going to make their stage debuts anymore… But the sheer joy of casting Tom Cruise alongside King Charles, Greta Thunberg, RuPaul and Meghan Markle has made up for it. To be premiering this theatrical extravaganza in Birmingham, the home of the original ground-breaking television series, is a wonderful thrill.’
The BAFTA and Emmy award-winning satirical Spitting Image television series originally ran for 18 series between 1984 and 1996, and was watched by over 15 million viewers. It recently made a popular return to TV on BritBox.
Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image Saves the World, Live on Stage will play at the Birmingham Rep from the 1st February until the 11th March.