Song Contest: The Almost Eurovision Experience

Producer/Director Glynn Nicholas is launching a brand new musical comedy paying homage to Eurovision at the Melbourne Comedy Festival from April 1 to May 1, 2016. Song Contest - The Almost Eurovision Experience has been devised from day one as an interactive theatrical experience like no other. After the Melbourne World Premiere in April, Song Contest will be available for schools, community and amateur theatres to perform. Glynn spoke to *David Spicer.

David Spicer: You were the producer/director and co-writer of the musical Eurobeat (which is now retired). Why did you want to create a wholly new musical on the Eurovision experience?

Glynn Nicholas: It was very clear that this kind of immersive theatrical experience has a great deal of potential in Australia and everywhere that Eurovision makes its mark. Song Contest – The Almost Eurovision Experience is taking off from where Eurobeat left off. Some of the things we are doing with the new show are way beyond the limits of Eurobeat. It is genuinely very exciting to be a part of this project.

DS: How does the audience get involved in performances?

GN: The experience is very interactive. The audience get a free badge denoting their country when they come to the theatre. They can communicate with us when they download the free App which they use to order drinks, vote during the show, post on social media, find out about the cast and so on. It’s pretty cool and we will make all of this available to anyone who licenses the show.We also encourage people to sign up to become a Eurovisionary. A Eurovisionary is someone who wants to get involved and engaged with us at some level. They get ticket deals and become our ambassadors to the cynical people!

DS: Tell us a little about the cast?

GN: They’re all pretty amazing – everyone has to be versatile (they all play at least 3 roles), they must have comedic abilities and sing like a dream. Bev Killick plays the host, Bettina Bitjakokov, and she is not only a great comedian but she can sing like Tina Turner. A pleasant surprise for me.

DS: Can you give us a hint of what the songs are like?

GN: Pretty much what you would expect to hear at the real Eurovision. Overblown power ballads, traditional folk slut rock, Greek-Spanish disco fusion, Aspirational –inspirational retro rock, Punk fusion and that sort of thing. 

DS: Who composed them?

GN: A number of writers from Australia, United Kingdom and Germany (the German entry is in the German language). All the writers will be listed on the web site as soon as the lazy bastards can be bothered sending them to me.

DS: How do the songs compare in style to what is dished up every year from the Eurovision Song Contest?

GN: Our mix of songs will remind people of modern entries to a degree but will also remind everyone of “the good ol’ days” when groups like Abba and Bucks Fizz were still big news. The nostalgia element is quite strong in the show, but we have some real beauties in the mix. Might even get some airplay, which would be cool.

DS: I understand you are running a competition allowing people to enter their own song in future seasons?

GN: Yes, this is a schools competition that we will be operating ahead of the national tour later in 2016. High schools submit their entries on line and in each state we hold a night with all the schools competing. The winning song becomes part of the show in that state. Royalties paid can be used to help music departments in schools.

DS: Could this be a way to get songs into the actual Eurovision competition?

GN: I don’t see any reason why not. We want to encourage young people as much as possible

DS:  What are you doing to make producing the musical at schools and amateur theatres in future years a special experience?

GN: First, the show works. It’s funny, it’s got a terrific score and so on. Second, this is going to be an annual event, just like Eurovision. Schools will be able to mount a brand new show with all new songs, new script etc. (same brand, different content). Where we differ is that we want to be genuinely engaged with the Community Theatre groups around the country, working with people like yourself so that community theatres and schools can get to know me and my company. I think most commercial producers don’t really take a lot of interest and miss out on a great relationship. I don’t mean this in a pejorative sense, but community theatre people are passionately bonkers, which is brilliant. Oh yes, we also give theatre groups a great deal of hands-on help with marketing, advertising ideas, and being a bridge for contact with other groups who are mounting a production.

*David Spicer Productions will be licensing Song Contest: The Almost Eurovision Experience in the years ahead. The show oplays at the Alex Theatre in Melbourne from April 1 to May 1, 2016 as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

http://www.songcontest-musical.com/