We spoke to Taiyo Yoshida and Dominic Varney about the brand-new musical Chosen. We talked to the pair about making a new show, what audiences should expect from a zombie musical and how they would defend themselves against a plague of zombies.
Tell us about the show.
Imagine accidentally killing Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, or Jesus and having to take their place. Sue, an IT Support Technician in her 60s, wakes from a coma to discover half the world has been zombified. After accidentally killing the prophesied ‘Chosen One’, Sue assumes their identity to avoid getting caught and has to save humanity herself. Chosen is a pop-rock comedy musical about purpose, second chances and embracing the uncertainty of life.
Describe the show in three words.
Silly, fantastical, joyous.
Can you tell us about the songs and music? What genre would you describe it as?
It’s very pop-rock and contemporary musical theatre. Pasek & Paul, Alan Menken, and Lin Manuel Miranda are sort of our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit when it comes to composing, and we’d like to think the score of our show moves around those three approaches and styles.
What should audiences look out for/expect?
A lot of really really really silly jokes and situations – we have a very dumb sense of humour.
Where do you get your ideas from?
Taiyo came up with the initial idea to set a musical in a zombie apocalypse, and then we very much took our ideas from the musicals, TV shows, and films we loved. We love Vince Gilligan’s writing (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) and how he puts his characters in impossible situations. We’re heavily inspired by Pixar and the way they get audiences to really care about their characters. And we had the idea to make an everyday person a reluctant “Chosen One” after rewatching Die Hard and The Matrix.
Are you excited to take your show to Norwich?
We can’t wait! We’re so excited to see how the show plays to the Norwich musical-loving, theatre-going crowd!
What do you think is the importance of programmes like Rewrites to get new work out to audiences?
In order to fully understand what is or isn’t working, you need to put your work in front of an audience. The great thing about REWRITES is that it showcases works in progress which gives us the freedom to play and explore and see what works.
Now for some dead quick questions…
How do you think you would cope in a Zombie apocalypse?
We’d gather resources, build a shelter, and start working on a cure. That or instantly be ripped apart by zombies. It’s a real coin toss.
Would you rather be killed at the start of an apocalypse or have to live through it?
If The Last Of Us has taught us anything, it’s that anything is possible as long as you have a grizzled Pedro Pascal by your side.
You can have one weapon and one hideout. What do you choose and why?
Our weapon is Pedro Pascal, and our hideout is Pedro’s warm, embracing arms.
Chosen is at Norwich Theatre Stage Two from 12 to 13 Nov. For more information or to book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office on 01603 630 000.
