Friday – Fabric 3
Chasing Icarus
The costumes are period. The language is TikTok.
Burgundy velvets drip down on a Baroque theatre. A rapt audience. Waiting…
Suddenly, an electronic beat thunders above bitcrushed-sampled harpsichords. A figure steps on stage, neither man nor woman. They open their mouth. The crowd goes wild…
Suddenly, an electronic beat thunders above bitcrushed-sampled harpsichords. A figure steps on stage, neither man nor woman. They open their mouth. The crowd goes wild…
Chasing Icarus is an intimate, soaring drama about castrati, the genderbending eunuch singers of 1700 Rome, performed by a genderqueer company.
Meet two soulmates in contention for the role of a lifetime: Nero, a young eunuch struggling to find his voice, and Violante, a non-binary individual disguised as a castrato in order to sing at a time where women aren’t allowed to.
Chasing Icarus is a high-octane story of self-discovery in an unforgiving world. Told through chart-friendly folktronica and an eccentric, genre-defying aesthetic, it blends period drama with futuristic flair. Beneath the spectacle, though, its heart beats raw—a story about self love, identity, and the ache of becoming.
Electro-baroque, Modernised-history, Feel-everything, Genderqueer
Chasing Icarus has had several developmental workshops, privately in both London and NYC, and with Leeds Conservatoire. It also recently received an ACE-funded showcase at The Other Palace.
Excerpts from the show have been performed by the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra (China).
The song “My Own Other Half” placed runner-up in the Mercury Theatre Songwriting Competition.
Excerpts from the show have been performed by the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra (China).
The song “My Own Other Half” placed runner-up in the Mercury Theatre Songwriting Competition.
We’ve had support and mentorship from leading names within the industry and an offer from both a London and a regional venue.
We want to connect with producers and investors. We’re at a point where we have a script and score that we’re really proud of and that we’re ready to take into production.
Child abuse (implied).
Though the piece is queer-positive, some minor characters use homophobic and transphobic language.
Cast of 8 with double casting. Could be expanded up to 12.
Band of 3 minimum, electronic recorded tracks
Meet the Writers
Carlo Bosticco
(book, music, lyrics) Carlo has provided additional lyrics for Travels with my Aunt by West End veterans Stiles and Drewe.… Read more
Carlo Bosticco
(book, music, lyrics) Carlo has provided additional lyrics for Travels with my Aunt by West End veterans Stiles and Drewe. Acting credits: King Ludwig II in My Parsifal Conductor (Off-Broadway), Olivier-Award winning La Bohème by OperaUpClose (Soho Theatre).
Matt Randall
(music, arrangements) Matt works as a musician/composer and is currently pianist for international drag superstar La Voix. Theatre credits: Wicked,… Read more
Matt Randall
(music, arrangements) Matt works as a musician/composer and is currently pianist for international drag superstar La Voix. Theatre credits: Wicked, Avenue Q, Godspell, Annie, (UK tours/West End) and others. As Music Producer/arranger: RTL Television (Germany), West End Live (London).
Carlo Bosticco and Matt Randall have been writing together since meeting at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008. Matt played the piano. Carlo played a cow.
Their first show, “Chasing Icarus”, was developed privately in NYC, London and with several readings/workshops at Leeds Conservatoire. It received an ACE-funded showcase at The Other Palace (director: Charlotte Peters).
The song “My Own Other Half” placed first runner up in the Mercury Theatre Songwriting Competition.
Excerpts of “Chasing Icarus” have been performed by the Symphony Orchestra of Guiyang, China.
Their second show, eco-fantasy family musical “Just Be(e)” was performed at Winchester University in 2022, showcased at The Other Palace’s “Musical Bites” and is now undergoing a developmental phase with BYMT.
Team
Writers – Matt Randall and Carlo Bosticco
Director – Charlotte Peters
Music Producer – Forbes Anderson
Cast:
Carlo Bosticco, B Terry, Valeria Perboni, Elliott Wooster, Jack Reitman, Jaz Terry, Joy Tan
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