Camden People’s Theatre’s SPRINT Festival returns with a packed programme throughout March. London’s “best-established carnival of new and unusual theatre” features artists with bold ideas, artists who don’t play by the rules, and artists, in many instances, making their first professional work.
This is the eighteenth of a series of interviews highlighting artists and work within the Festival, as I chat with writer/performer/producer Alex Robins about his show, Meet Mayor Max.
Max is the Mayor of Idyllwild, California. He’s also a Golden Retriever Labrador.
It might seem far-fetched, but this story is true!
A charming and eccentric solo show, written and performed by Mayor Max’s number one fan!
We can’t wait for you to join us!
Where: Camden People’s Theatre
When: 27 Mar, 9pm
Ticket link: https://cptheatre.co.uk/whatson/Meet-Mayor-Max
Your show Meet Mayor Max is having a preview as part of SPRINT – this is based on a real dog who holds office. Tell us more!
Of course! Meet Mayor Max is a documentary-theatre solo show that uses verbatim and found text as well as my personal experiences to tell the unbelievable true story of Mayor Max, the Golden Retriever Labrador. I started research for this play in 2023 and have since travelled to the town of Idyllwild in California twice.
On the first visit, I volunteered for Mayor Max and conducted interviews with the townspeople – a year later, I performed a version of this play in their town hall. Max does a huge amount for the community, including hosting events, boosting tourism and promoting ARF (Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild) – the local volunteer-run shelter. For more information, I’d recommend checking out https://www.mayormax.com/!
How did you get the idea to develop this into a show?
Three years ago, I watched a 22-minute documentary called The Mayor by Taylor Horky, which fascinated me. I called the phone number on Mayor Max’s website, not expecting anything to come of it, and ended up having hours of conversation with Mayor Max’s Chief of Staff, Phyllis Mueller, over the following months. That September, I found myself in Idyllwild volunteering for the Mayor’s office.
Over the last fourteen years, Phyllis and her husband Glenn have put an immense amount of time, money and effort into running Mayor Max activities every day. I’m incredibly thankful to them both for welcoming me into their community, as well as to their friends, Rick and Stacy, who welcomed me into their home on my second visit.
What might audiences expect who come along?
Expect to learn the entire story of Mayor Max! It’s far-fetched, but true! We’ll hear about his election campaign, rise to stardom, Peace on Earth Team initiative and more! The show also explores finding purpose, the healing properties of happiness and my experience of making the short play Mayor Max for President, which was performed a fortnight before the 2024 US election in Idyllwild town hall!
If you let it, this show will change your life. That’s not hyperbole, it’s an invitation! Join us!
This ‘charming and eccentric’ show is flagged as a preview – so what are you going to do with it next?
We have some exciting opportunities on the horizon which we’ll be able to share soon! The show is touring through the Spring, but this is our only performance in London, so catch it while you can!
We last had a chat six years ago when you wrote a play about the Large Hadron Collider [interview] – so, from science to political dogs. What’s next for you?
I’ve got plans for two more solo shows in the same style as Meet Mayor Max on completely different topics, as I’ve loved the process of making documentary theatre. As a teaser for the next one, I’ll be travelling back to America, this time to Las Vegas!