Spitting Image Live to premiere at Birmingham Rep in 2023

A live stage adaptation of Spitting Image is to premiere at Birmingham Rep early next year.

Newly announced for the venue’s upcoming autumn and winter 2022/2023 season, Spitting Image Live: Featuring the Liar King will run 1 February – 12 March 2023.

The piece is written by Al Murray, Matt Forde and Sean Foley, Birmingham Rep’s Artistic Director who also directs the production.

Whilst Boris and his chums level themselves ever upwards to the sunlit uplands, Spitting Image are preparing to level them down to size in a theatrical extravaganza like no other. Join the circle of lies and see the puppets live on stage for the first time ever. Witness a monstrous cast of stars including The Liar King himself, Boris Johnson. Plus Tom Cruise & Michael Gove (together on stage for the very first time), Adele, Tyson Fury, Harry and Meghan, Stormzy, Beyoncé, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, and many more.

Foley said: “It’s not often you get to direct Tom Cruise, Stormzy, Boris Johnson, Beyonce, and Her Majesty the Queen all on the same bill… I’m thrilled to be part of the team bringing this iconic British comedy to the stage – in particular to be working with the inspiring Roger Law, original co-creator of this legendary show.

“From the scathing to the silly, from brutal political satire to sending up celebrity, Spitting Image has always fearlessly pointed at the Emperors of our society and gleefully stripped them naked. This live show will be no different…”

Spitting Image co-creator Roger Law said: “Birmingham Rep and Spitting Image have been receiving numerous calls from friends of Boris Johnson pleading with us not to cancel his puppet from our theatre show, ‘The Liar King’, opening in the New Year.

“Recent events made it doubtful if either Boris or Prince Andrew would be treading the boards… but after careful consideration we are now able to reassure them both that their puppets are the kind of heartless bastards essential for our kind of refined satire. Boris’s friends please note, and report to him that, YES, his puppet will appear wearing a gilet jaune yellow jacket pretending to be useful!”

Birmingham Rep has also announced brand-new comedy The Way Old Friends Do. Written by Ian Hallard and directed by Mark Gatiss, the piece is about two old school friends who decide to form the world’s first ABBA tribute band – in drag!

Meanwhile, Kit de Waal, Birmingham born and bred writer of My Name is Leon, together with Dean O’Loughlin, will collaborate on a new play for future production about the visit of Malcolm X to Birmingham in 1965.

The programme for Autumn is completed with Ballet Black which will perform Black Sun and Say It Loud. Apphia Campbell will perform Black Is The Color of My Voice, the extraordinary show about Nina Simone, returning after a sell out run in The Door earlier this year.

In addition, Sky Comedy Rep – The Rep’s partnership with Sky Studios developing new comedy writing into production – will return for a second year. Applications open 4 July.

For more information about the shows and tickets, visit birmingham-rep.co.uk

Foley added: “From Nina Simone to Tartuffe, and from Ballet Black to Nativity The Musical, the Autumn Season represents a true diversity of theatrical experiences. I’m delighted to be starting the new year in ‘23 with two world premiere comedies, and am thrilled that Tom Cruise has agreed to follow in the footsteps of Sir Laurence Olivier, and make his theatrical debut at The Rep.”