Today, we chat with Evan Reynolds, the writer, composer, and performer of “the exhilarating new solo musical” BoyBi.
Returning to London “bigger and better” after a sell-out at 2022’s Clapham Fringe, BoyBi is in resudence at the Turbine Theatre from 26-30 Sep.
Directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair and Yuxuan Liu, BoyBi is “an exciting new work exploring the self-discovery, journey, and adversity of growing up bisexual.”
“This fresh, exuberant entertainment reoresents the upcoming generations while paying cheerful homage to the musical theatre tradition of hummable catchy tunes.”
Where: Turbine Theatre, near Battersea Power Station
When: 26-30 Sep
Ticket link: https://www.theturbinetheatre.com/whats-on/boybi
Discount code: BOY – for £14 tickets
Read on to find out more about Evan’s show.
BoyBi was a success last year at Clapham Fringe – how excited are you for a full run at the Turbine Theatre?
Honestly, I keep pinching myself, like, is this really happening? I’m so excited, nervous, and every other emotion, but I can’t wait to take to stage here at the Turbine.
I’m so proud of the team and grateful to everyone who has supported us to make this happen!
You’ve described this show as exhilarating and a rollercoaster – what should audiences expect and why should they come along?
Well, no spoilers, of course ahah but the show, like life, is a rollercoaster of emotions. It follows a teenagers journey of self-discovery. It will make you laugh, cry, and laugh again,
George spends a lot of the show living in his memories and reliving what shaped him into who he is! The audience should come prepared to be thrown into a beautiful bi world and to fall in love with it!
Our boy’s journey to loving his bi is a beautiful one jam packed with 9 original songs! With catchy pop songs, rap songs, and R&B songs there’s a song for every music taste,
The show is for everyone young old, etc. it’s feel good, and there’s something for everyone to relate to!
Rikki Beadle-Blair has come on board as director for this run. Has this collaboration allowed you to further develop the show?
Rikki is an absolute icon. He came to watch the show at Clapham Fringe, and we connected over his play Alex The Great earlier this year!
I could not have done this without Rikki’s support. He’s been an amazing friend and mentor, and his talent has no boundaries. Rikki has helped transform the show ready for this weeks run at the Turbine.
Yuxuan has been with me since the beginning, and our combined creatively has created something extremely special packed with plenty of fun & fizz and representational of the bisexual community.
The British fringe scene is in an interesting place right now; what do you see happening in its future?
I think the fringe scene is exploding with a lot of new ideas, and it is so exciting! There’s been a huge increase in artist-led work, which is so refreshing.
The way we view EVERYTHING is changing, whether that’s climate change, sexuality, race, or gender.
So now more than ever there’s so much more to say, and fortunately, the fringe scene is a stage for many young artists to advocate for this change in whatever way they want.
BoyBi is your first show – what other plans do you have going.forward?
Hopefully this is just the beginning of BoyBi.
I’ll like to take BoyBi further afield, and we’re currently exploring venues in Manchester and Edinburgh Fringe.
I’ve also reached out to a number of LGBTQ charities, particularly teenagers, and would like to work with them.
I’m a member of the Royal Court Writers Group, so have a beautiful relationship with them and their new artistic director David Byrne so would love to keep working with them on BoyBi and my other plays that are in the early development stages 🙂