Nikolai Foster Q&A - Bank of Dave: The Musical

Some might think this is an unlikely story to be put on stage - how has BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL come about?

Several years ago Matt Williams, CEO of Future Artists Entertainment (the company who produced BANK OF DAVE on Netflix) felt this David versus Goliath tale of a man from Burnley taking on the big city bankers could become a great musical. Matt met with our collaborators at ROYO and soon after, Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary were brought on board as writers and Curve and Lowry joined the project as co-producers.

At the heart of BANK OF DAVE we have what all musicals need: a larger-than-life character who can drive the piece forward. For me, Dave is the real-life ‘Barnum of Burnley’, so it felt perfectly natural to imagine this story staged as a musical. After a number of years in workshops, we’re now here in rehearsals, ready to share the show with the world!

You’ve directed a wide variety of productions in your career – from huge shows like BILLY ELLIOT, A CHORUS LINE, KINKY BOOTS and ANNIE to dramas like A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE.

How are you approaching directing BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL compared to your previous work?

From my point of view, no matter what show you’re working on as a director, you’re a shapeshifter, responding to the writing and what best serves the piece. I always think of it like a triangle between the artists – in this case, the writers Rob and Pippa – the actors who bring the piece to life on stage and the audience who respond to it.

The humour and the wit of this piece is so exhilarating. In rehearsals, we’ve been working with the actors in the most dynamic and imaginative ways to serve Rob and Pippa’s writing, hopefully to share a musical with audiences that is as fun and exciting as the book and music they’ve provided us with.

How important was it to launch the show in the ‘north’? It feels like this adds authenticity to bringing Dave’s incredible story to life on stage?

Dave himself was really keen we should open the show as close to Burnley as possible and that makes perfect sense. We’re thrilled the world-premiere of the production will be held at the terrific Lowry theatre in Salford, close to the Pennines and Dave’s place of birth, where he stills lives to this day.

BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL reflects the experiences and lives of many real people in the community of Burnley but like all great plays and musicals, it transcends that location and reflects experiences of modern working-class life and post-industrial life all up and down the country.

Why should audiences be excited to experience new productions like this?

Supporting new work is so important and really, anybody who cares about the future of theatre should be interested in new work because it’s the lifeblood of our industry. Once upon a time MY FAIR LADY was new, THE SOUND OF MUSIC was new, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE was new, WEST SIDE STORY was new - it was those audiences who took a punt and were excited to celebrate that new work that helped ensure those musicals and plays lived long and have remained part of the repertoire.

This is such a funny, brilliant piece of writing and I think it’s really going to blow people’s minds with how hilarious, how moving and how original it is. You get the tone and grit of BILLY ELLIOT with the subversive, naughty, northern humour of Victoria Wood and Alan Bennett. It really is brilliant.

Dave Fishwick is a real, larger-than-life figure – what can you tell us about Sam Lupton’s interpretation of Dave in the show?

Sam is obviously being true to the essence of who Dave is but it's not about an impersonation of Dave, it’s about creating a character within the world of the musical. Sam is an incredibly gifted star, a real triple threat.

It took us a long time to find our Dave because we were so determined to find the right person. When Sam came into the room it was clear he had the star quality and charisma to really ignite the musical and embody the essence of Dave Fishwick through the medium of song and dance.

How are things going in the rehearsal room? The photographs look like everyone is having a lot of fun?

I think sometimes we're having too much fun! There's a lot of hilarity and literal tears of laughter - I honestly haven't laughed so much in a long time. The writing is hilarious and the actors have really bonded. Everything has come together in the best possible way to create a really fun and beautifully chaotic rehearsal process and I know the audience will feel that energy and anarchy. I think we’ll need to see if Dave’s minibus company has a supply of extra seatbelts because audiences will be bursting out of their seats with laughter, I’m sure!

What can audiences expect when they come to BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL?

You are guaranteed a night of side-splitting hilarity and incredible songs, all performed with joy, love and enthusiasm by our phenomenal company. In these very uncertain times, we want to give people the chance to come to the theatre and see a show which says something hopeful about the world and how we can make a difference for our communities.