Twelve voice-over artists along with a mix of actors, impressionists and comedians have started work on recording voices for more than 100 Spitting Image characters for the première of Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image Saves the World which is to open at Birmingham Rep.
They are Al Murray, Debra Stephenson, Jess Robinson, Jojo Lin, Jason Forbes, Josh Berry, Kathryn Drysdale, Lorna Laidlaw, Luke Kempner, Matt Forde, Ronan Summers and Shri Patel.
Sean Foley, artistic director of Birmingham Rep who directs the show, 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 three entire scripts and several famous puppets aren’t even going to make their stage debuts any more.
“But the sheer joy of casting Tom Cruise alongside King Charles, Greta Thunberg, RuPaul, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has made up for it. To be premièring this theatrical extravaganza in Birmingham, the home of the original ground-breaking television series, is a wonderful thrill.”
Al Murray commented, “it’s a who’s who of the good, the bad and the ugly. I know Marvel like to say it but our show is the greatest crossover event of all time. Where else could you get Michael Gove, Tom Cruise, Sir Ian McKellen, Idris Elba, Daniel Craig, Fiona Bruce and Paddington Bear on a single stage?”
Matt Forde added, “we’re living through an insane, abnormal, infuriating period, so the timing of this show couldn't be better. It's vital that we see our leaders lampooned with cutting satire and, yes, whacked over the head with a big stick.”
The satirical Spitting Image television series ran for 18 series between 1984 and 1996 and was watched by more than 15 million viewers.
The creative team for Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image Saves the World features writers Al Murray, Matt Forde and Sean Foley, caricaturist supremo Roger Law, set designer Alice Power, video designer Nina Dunn, sound designer Paul Groothuis, lighting designer Tim Mitchell, puppet master Scott Brooker, costume designer Lotte Collet, choreographer Lizzi Gee, composer Felix Hagan, associate composer and musical director Alexander Bermange, production manager John Rowland, associate director Nyasha Gudo, associate sound designer Simon King, assistant set designer Catherine Morgan, puppet casting director Mikey Brett, creators of Spitting Image Peter Fluck and Roger Law, producer for Birmingham Rep Chloe Naldrett, general manager Emma Brunjes and executive producers Richard Allen-Turner and Jon Thoday for Avalon.
The puppeteers are 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.
Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image Saves the World, Live on Stage runs at Birmingham Rep from Wednesday 1 February until Saturday 11 March.