Boris Johnson's 'rise to PM' to be subject of musical parody

 
Parodied: Boris Johnson (Picture: Getty)
Rachel Blundy19 August 2014

A theatre director is raising funds for a musical which parodies Boris Johnson's imagined rise to Prime Minister.

The show, entitled Cripes! I'm Prime Minister: The Musical, follows the fictional story of a young Boris' efforts to become head boy at a private school - or "Prime Minister" as the school's students call it.

He competes against several other ambitious students - including characters modelled on current Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne - in the scramble for the top job.

Gabriella Brunel plans to stage the hour-long comedy production about London's eccentric mayor at two theatres in the capital this autumn.

The 29-year-old songwriter and stand-up comedian from Kingston estimates she will need £5,000 in donations in order to employ a cast of six actors and four musicians for the performances.

She hopes the musical will eventually become popular enough to be transferred to the Leicester Square Theatre in spring 2015 to coincide with the run up to the general election.

On her online fundraising page, Ms Brunel describes the musical, which will feature original rock and pop songs, as "a satire to our political time that is both hugely entertaining and funny".

She told the Standard: "I basically want people to get the sense of the rug being pulled from under the feet of the politicans."

She added the show would draw on her long-term interest in London's most famous fop-haired politician.

She said: "I have been doing stand-up comedy for quite a few years. When I was a student at Goldsmith's a few years ago we had to do a 15 minute musical and because I have always been interested in Boris as a character I did one about him.

"I have been reading all the newspaper clippings about him and all the books.

"But it is hard to do [a musical] about Boris because I do not think anyone can be as extravagant as himself.

"I think he definitely has a chance [of becoming Prime Minister] because people are so disillusioned with the others."

Speaking about the moment she told Mr Johnson about her plans for the theatre show, she said: "Before I told him he was quite flirtatious but when I told him he was quite wary. He said he wouldn't mind if it had Latin in it!"

She added: "I might invite him [to the show]. I think it might be fun."

Cripes! I'm Prime Minister: The Musical is set to run at Canal Cafe Theatre from 17-21 September 2014 and from 12-16 November at The Pheasantry.

To donate to the production click here.

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