‘Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical’ to transfer to the West End

Al Murray, Matt Forde, and Sean Allen's satirical comedy, based on the popular television series, uses puppet caricatures to retell news and world events.

Forget the Avengers. There’s puppets on the way. After a world premiere at Birmingham Rep earlier this year, Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image will transfer to the West End for 13 weeks. Previews begin at the Phoenix Theatre on 24 May, with an opening night on 14 June, and performances to 26 August.

The Spitting Image television show satirises popular events of its time through puppet caricatures. However, in Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image, press material states: "Tom Cruise is tasked by His Majesty The King to create the UK’s very own ‘Magnificent Seven’ of celebrity misfits — Tom Cruise, Greta Thunberg, Meghan Markle, Tyson Fury, RuPaul, Angela Rayner and Idris Elba — to save the nation from a cabal of dark forces seeking to destroy it."

Al Murray, Matt Forde, and Sean Foley’s show uses over 100 puppets, including caricatures of King Charles, Ian McKellen, and Prince Harry. Voiceover artists for the world premiere included Forde, Murray, Debra Stephenson, Jojo Lin, Jason Forbes, Jess Robinson, Josh Berry, Kathryn Drysdale, Lorna Laidlaw, Luke Kempner, Ronan Summers, and Shri Patel.

Sean Foley directs, with set design by Alice Power, costume design by Lote Collett, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Paul Groothuis, puppets by Scott Brooker, and choreography by Lizzi Gee.

Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image is at the Phoenix Theatre.

Book Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image (Photo courtesy of production)