Grayson Perry’s life story is to be told in an “outrageous” new stage musical co-created with the composer of Jerry Springer: The Opera.
Grayson the Musical is a portrait of the artist from his childhood in Chelmsford to his international fame as a Turner prize-winning ceramicist, tapestry-maker and frock-lover. As well as fabulous dresses, the show will include a supporting role for Alan Measles, the beloved teddy bear who has featured in Perry’s work.
“When I first started thinking about turning my life into a musical, I realised it already contained most of the essential ingredients – questionable fashion choices and class anxiety amongst them,” said Perry. “Beneath all the comedy however, is a story about trying to work out who you are and if you can ever truly belong. A concept which many may relate to.”
There will be five performances of the workshop production in July, before it is developed further. It will be presented at Soho Theatre Walthamstow in the east London borough where Perry kept a studio for many years. One of his most famous works is The Walthamstow Tapestry, which depicts the seven ages of man and is adorned with hundreds of brand names.
Sean Foley will direct the musical which is billed as an “irreverent odyssey” as Perry navigates “identity, creativity and self-acceptance via marital breakdowns, career disasters and some life coaching from a six-foot teddy bear named Alan”. Perry has written the lyrics, the music is by Richard Thomas who had a hit with the audacious Jerry Springer: The Opera and the book is by Sara-Ella Ozbek, best known as a screenwriter and novelist. According to a press statement, it is ultimately a show “about growing up and embracing who you truly are, touching on themes of family, therapy, art and, of course, cross-dressing – you know, all the usual musical comedy tropes”.
Perry told his life story in the book Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl, written with Wendy Jones, published in 2006. Last year he toured a stage show entitled Are You Good? which explored morality and featured copious audience participation and some songs. The workshop performances of Grayson the Musical run from 16 to 19 July.