A new musical comedy produced by New Zealand theatre-maker Teresa Morrison will receive its London premiere at Upstairs at the Gatehouse as part of this year’s Camden Fringe.
Inspired by one of history’s strangest true events — when hundreds of people in Strasbourg reportedly danced uncontrollably for days in 1518 — The Dance Plague of 1518 follows four struggling Theatre in Education actors as they attempt to turn the bizarre episode into a musical, despite knowing almost nothing about it.
The fast-paced production features 12 original songs, live musicians and four performers playing more than 30 characters. Combining historical absurdity with theatrical chaos, the show will appeal to fans of Operation Mincemeat, Spamalot, The 39 Steps and Noises Off.
Originally from New Zealand and now based in London, Morrison has spent the past few years producing, co-producing and production-managing theatre. She previously led Kerikeri Theatre Company as its general manager and board secretary, helping to deliver productions ranging from intimate plays and large-scale musicals to youth theatre and an annual outdoor Shakespeare series. Her credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Macbeth and Blackadder: The Golden Age.
Morrison is also a performer, whose stage roles in New Zealand have included Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Annette in God of Carnage, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Carol in Black Comedy.