TOY SHOW THE
RTE says it’s
RTE’S Toy Show The Musical bosses said the stage show is ‘a risk’ for the broadcaster — but they expect the live shows to sell out.
More than 100 talented Irish people are involved in the production and the masterminds behind the musical adaption of the annual Late Late Show Christmas phenomenon said the risk is already paying off.
Director of Strategy at RTE Rory Coveney said: “I think it is fair to say that there is a risk, absolutely. And it is a big investment.
“But it is an investment in the Irish economy, Irish talent, the next generation of Irish actors and actresses, and musicians, and production, and coming at a time when a lot of people haven’t worked in a number of years, and to have created something original is something we are very proud of.
“We hope to sell out. We have to fund it so we are hoping people will buy tickets and come but that is like any show.”
Idea
Toy Show The Musical has been in the works for almost three years, born out of an idea dreamed up by experienced past Late Late Show producers Jane Murphy and Katherine Drohan.
They weren’t the first to think of an idea to extend the magic of the one-night-only Toy Show special every November into another avenue.
But after years of fine tuning their musical dreams, whilst also managing to keep the weekly RTE chat show running during the pandemic, they got the backing to put their plans into motion.
Rory explained: “This isn’t the first project extension of the Toy Show that has been considered by RTE. It is the first one we have said yes to.
“We didn’t say yes straight away, we said go away and go away and keep working on it, and we got to a stage now where it has gotten a lot of integrity and Jane [Murphy] and Katherine [Drohan] in particular have been at the heart of that from the start.
“And it is a big decision for RTE to invest in it. It is expensive and a huge production we are taking on and we’re trying to fill a
‘These incredible artists believed in it and now it is real’
big theatre, a number of times a day, for a month.”
Speaking at an exclusive behind the scenes first look at the musical yesterday, whilst the cast got into their third week of rehearsals at Dublin’s Croke Park, Jane said: “Myself and Katherine had this dream three years ago that began so small.
Belief
“Rory believed in it, Sarah Lynch believed in it, RTE believed in it, these incredible artists and creators believed in it and now it is real.
“And what an honour it is for RTE to be able to say in the truest, most sincere sense, they are supporting the arts.
“It feels like all the stars have aligned here.”
The proud creator added: “We are all used to going to see shows that are a UK touring production, or British stories or American stories.
“This is a chance to bring a little Irish kid into an Irish theatre and hear all our accents and all our beautiful diversity, and do what we do best as Irish people and have a big session.
“Singing, dancing, chats, stories, craic, mad families, comedy and humour. And that’s what musical theatre is.”