“I Heart Michael Ball is a 60 minute (no interval), interactive, one man show exploring obsession, fandom, unrequited love and grief. As the audience enter and find Alex stood over a bloodied rug, they will be asked questions to help shape the narrative of this mysterious scene. As their answers expand the story in different ways for each performance, the audience begin to reveal their own obsessions, celebrity crushes and whether they believe that love really does change everything.”
Split Infinitive bring their show to Camden Fringe (Etcetera Theatre, 5-7 August) – Alexander Millington, creative director and writer/performer tells us more.
Tickets – https://camden.ssboxoffice.com/events/i-heart-michael-ball/
Tell me about your Camden Fringe show! What’s it all about?
I Heart Michael Ball is a one hour one man show exploring grief, loss and obsession through the eyes of an obsessive Michael Ball fan.
It’s the 10th Bi-annual meeting of the Michael Ball Appreciation Society and their founder, Alex, has a little surprise in store for his members.
I Heart Michael Ball is an interactive performance where Alex will converse with member of the society, tell them of his childhood and love for his deceased brother, and may even sing a song or two from the back catalogue of the great Westend star!
What’s the best thing about being part of a festival like this?
We love bringing shows to Camden Fringe because it offers us such a wide and varied audience that we wouldn’t normally reach at other festivals. We get to be a part of a programme of show so eclectic that neither audience nor venue really know what they are getting themselves in for! We always meet some amazing artists during the festival and see some amazing performances and we’re sure this year will be no different.
What has your company been up to over the past year of theatre recovery?
During lockdown we moved our focus, as many companies did, to online and audio performance, during which time we worked with some amazing companies setting up new writing showcases. We also had two of our scripts produced and broadcast on BBC Radio. Since restrictions lifted, we have done our best to continue where we left off! We toured our last production, Three Way, to the Camden and Greater Manchester Fringes, and are now touring I Heart Michael Ball as wide and far as we can. I Heart Michael Ball is our first major tour including locations in Birmingham, Bedford, Oxford, London and Brighton and we hope to continue with the production into the New Year.
Do you have further plans for the show after the Camden Fringe? Or other shows in other spaces?
We are in the process of confirming further dates and venues for I Heart Michael Ball and hope to announce these in the not too distant future (watch this space).
We are also currently researching for our next production with the intention of touring it in Spring/Summer 2023, but it’s all a little hush hush right now. You’ll have to follow our socials to keep up to date with production details.
Let’s finish on a one liner. Why should I come to see I Heart Michael Ball?
By the time the evening is through, everyone will know that you were there and that you were a part of something…special.