Internet hoax turns into a reality at Edinburgh Fringe

An internet hoax became a reality when Scott Mills the Musical premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The idea came about when a fake flyer was found to be circulating the internet advertising the show featuring the Radio 1 DJ imitating a variety of singers.

The musical soon became a reality when listeners tuning into his show urged the DJ to stage the performance, and even phoned in with suggestions as to how the format of the production should pan out.

A vast array of different celebrities participated in the musical, with David Hasselhoff narrating the story of Mills’ rise to fame and Denise Van Outen featuring in the audition segment of the production.

Mills opted out of playing the role of himself and instead allowed his listeners to vote for their own choice of actor, with unknown Joe Taylor winning the competition.

The plot of the musical tells the story of when Mills lost his job as Radio 1 DJ and his struggle to get it back, by participating as a Susan Boyle type character in a programme modelled on Britain’s Got Talent.

The musical has received praise from fans and critics alike, complimenting the ambition taken on to bring the Edinburgh Fringe to Radio 1 listeners tuning in back home and plans are now being made to take the show on a nationwide tour.

Mills isn’t exactly making theatrical history here, but it does reflect how theatre is becoming more infiltrated with popular culture, such as the popularity of performances like Jerry Springer the Opera and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s televised auditions for the cast of his next production. Interactive musicals and theatre might be the way forward if a younger audience is to be engaged.

Scott Mills The Musical Blog: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/scottmills/
Review on whatsonstage.com: http://www.whatsonstage.com/blogs/edinburgh2009/?p=761
Interview on STV: http://doiop.com/stvmills