Caro Meets Musicals & Opera Interview

Jamie Jackson: Muted

By | Published on Wednesday 30 November 2016

mutedbunker2016

Opening next week at much praised young venue The Bunker is a new musical that inspired significant acclaim when the first workshop version was presented a few years back. ‘Muted’, created by Tim Prottey-Jones, Tori Allen-Martin and Sarah Henley, tells the story of a young man who chooses not to speak in the aftermath of a tragic incident.

To find out more about the show and the company behind it, I spoke to the production’s director, Jamie Jackson.

CM: Can you start by telling us a bit about the content of the show? Who is it about and what story does it tell?
JJ: It’s about a young man (Michael) who experiences something traumatic and becomes mute as a consequence. The show is about his battle to overcome the trauma, with the help of Lauren, his ex-girlfriend. Both of them are holding onto secrets which – if revealed – could have devastating consequences…

CM: What would you say are its primary themes?
JJ: I would say grief, forgiveness and love. Perfect for christmas!

CM: What style or genre of music can we expect?
JJ: All sorts – there’s something for everyone. Tim Prottey-Jones and Tori Allen-Martin have created a stunning soundtrack. We’ve got big loud dramatic rock songs, heartbreaking ballads and one that even sounds a little bit country. It’s the kind of soundtrack you can imagine crossing over, I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t hear some of the music on the radio in the next couple of months.

CM: The show was created by a team of three, wasn’t it? Can you tell us a bit about them?
JJ: Tori, Tim and Sarah (Henley, who wrote the book) have lived with this show for a number of years. It’s been a real privilege to work with all three. They’re all incredibly talented, which makes this show an absolute joy to work on. I hope this is the first of many collaborations with them all!

CM: Can you tell us a bit about the company, Interval Productions?
JJ: Interval Productions, run by founder and creative director Tori Allen-Martin and executive director Sarah Henley, are making new, contemporary sounding musicals. They want to make work that entertains and moves audiences in equal measure. Their characters reflect contemporary audiences too which is hugely important. They make a kind of work that is hard to find in London… I know it’s a bit of a cliché but in this instance it really is true –  there’s nothing else like it on stage!

CM: How did you get involved with the production? What attracted you to the project?
JJ: I have worked with Sarah before, and I was really keen to do so again. I love Tim and Tori’s songs too. I have long been a fan of musicals and they are what made me want to be a director in the first place, so have been looking for one to direct for some time. As a director, I mainly work in new writing, and this felt like an exciting moment to combine the two!

CM: The early workshop version of the show met with much acclaim – to what extent has it changed since then?
JJ: I’ve been working closely with the actors and creative team to build upon the terrific workshop version of the show. We’ve got some new music and the production design is VERY different this time which changes things dramatically. I can’t give too much away at this stage, but if you sit at the front you might need a poncho…

CM: How did you come to be staging it at recently opened new venue The Bunker? Why is it a good fit for the show?
JJ: It’s such an intimate space,and we’re making a version of the show that really plays on that. The proximity of the audience is going to make for an incredibly intense, exhilarating production. The shows in the season so far have been absolutely fantastic, so it’s a real privilege to be a part of that. It’s a loud, exhilarating, adrenaline rush of a show and you’re really going to feel the power of that in the Bunker. It’s a very accessible, relatable show and that fits beautifully with the ethos of the venue too.

CM: It’s a fairly small cast for a musical, really, isn’t it? Can you tell us about who is involved?
JJ: I saw a one man musical earlier in the year so I guess it doesn’t feel too small to me! They’re a talented group. It’s a real honour to be making this show with the six of them (David Leopold, Edd Campbell Bird, Tori Allen-Martin, Jos Slovick, Helen Hobson and Mark Hawkins). The show has multiple story strands and watching these actors bring that to life is an incredible privilege.

CM: What hopes are there for the future of the show, following this London run?
JJ: At the moment we’re all working as hard as we can to make the run at the Bunker the best it can be, so I don’t think any of us have thought any further than that!

‘Muted’ is on at The Bunker from 7 Dec-7 Jan. Head this way for details and to book your tickets.

LINKS: www.bunkertheatre.com | www.intervalproductions.com | twitter.com/intervalprods

Photo: Savannah Photographic



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