Josie Lawrence is to play the title character in a streamed version of the cult Lars von Trier film, The Boss of it All, which has been adapted by Nottinghamshire theatre company New Perspectives.
The office comedy drama was originally presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013 before transferring to London’s Soho Theatre.
The office setting has now become a remote working set-up, with the action taking place via a series of Zoom meetings. Lawrence will lead a cast of seven performing live from their homes. Each night, she will be joined by a different guest comedian.
The Boss of it All involves the head of an IT company who has tricked his staff into believing he is simply another co-worker. When he needs a 'real' boss to help close the deal of a lifetime, he hires an actor to play the role.
Marking one of Lars von Trier's rare forays into comedy, this “distinctive and eccentric exploration of office politics” was rewritten for the stage by New Perspectives artistic director Jack McNamara.
Josie Lawrence plays Kristina, gender-flipped from the original Kristoffer in the film, the out-of-work actor hired to play the company boss. The cast also features Ross Armstrong, UK-based Japanese comedian Yuriko Kotani, David Alade, Angela Bain, Rachel Summers, Jamie de Courcey and Tone Haldrup Lorenzen.
Lawrence said, “I’m really excited to be working with one of my favourite directors, Jack McNamara, again. I love this adaption and can't wait to get started.”
McNamara added, “The Boss of it All is a comedy about dodgy leadership, work instability and the artifice of daily life. So it’s little surprise that the play has gained an entirely fresh resonance in the time we find ourselves in today.
“Rewriting it for Zoom brought out a clear political centre that was almost unnoticeable six years ago. It's hard today not to recognise a story about finding ourselves in the hands of leaders whose conviction goes no deeper than the script they’re holding."
A New Perspectives and Soho Theatre co-production in association with Derby QUAD, The Boss of it All will have five performances between Friday 18 and Sunday 20 September.