Inside Urinetown: Andrew Baker on bringing Perth its most absurd musical yet
Western Sky Projects is diving headfirst into unhinged fun this November with “Urinetown, The Musical”, a riotous Tony Award-winning satire where corporate greed, rebellion, and musical theatre collide in the most gloriously absurd way possible. This all-new production transforms Perth’s Liberty Theatre into an immersive playground for 18 local performers in its ensemble cast, and a live five-piece band.
We spoke with director and producer Andrew Baker about bringing this cult Broadway classic to WA, the joys and challenges of staging something this ambitious, and why Urinetown will feel more relevant (and more entertaining) than ever:
What drew you to Urinetown as the next project for Western Sky Projects?
Was there something about its themes that felt especially relevant to audiences today, or WA audiences in particular?
Andrew Baker: Underneath the satire and outstanding songs, Urinetown is about corporate greed, fragile idealism and ecological collapse. So it seems to become more timely with each passing day. Thematically, it’s universal and Perth audiences will take a lot from it. However, ultimately, the show's inherent fun and self-aware style is what drew us to it. The audience is going to have a ball.
Urinetown has such a distinctive legacy as a cult Broadway hit.
In bringing it to the Perth stage, what have you and your team brought to this production that makes it stand out? Were there any choices or interpretations that make your version unique?
Andrew: This production stands out by fully embracing Urinetown's inherent absurdity while grounding it in a truthful portrayal of the world. We've also used some old-school theatrical techniques to give the show a hand-made, Brechtian feel. Our production is a little bit immersive as well. It’ll be a unique experience for our audiences.
The Liberty Theatre is such a unique venue.
How did its space influence your staging or your approach to shaping the audience’s experience?
Andrew: The Liberty Theatre's intimate and stripped-back space has been a major influence. We're embracing its characteristics to create an immersive and gritty atmosphere, allowing us to make bold creative choices that will offer a Urinetown experience unlike any other. We’ve worked in there before, and I think we’re making the most of the natural alignment of a show like Urinetown and a space like the Liberty. Match made in heaven.
What did you discover about the show through rehearsals that surprised you?
Andrew: Probably the sheer scale of the thing! Musically and choreographically, Urinetown is epic, and nearly every cast member is in every number. Also, just the extraordinarily strong comedic writing — it's genius. There's a reason they won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. We're are continuously surprised by the details in the script. It keeps giving.
This production brings together 18 performers, a live band, and a powerhouse local creative team.
What was the collaborative process like in shaping such an ambitious, high-energy, ensemble-driven piece?
Andrew: It’s been a truly collaborative process. Musical theatre is the ultimate collaboration, and we're fortunate to have such a great team across all departments. Rehearsals have been incredibly busy, and it's been a huge challenge, but putting a musical on stage is like a collective solving of a puzzle. We're all discovering it together, and that's been a real joy.
What are you most excited for the audiences to experience in your version of Urinetown?
Andrew: I really don’t want to give anything away! But nearly everyone seeing this show will be coming to Urinetown for the first time, so I’m excited for them to experience the story and the humour. We are trying some bold staging ideas, so it’ll be interesting to see how our audiences engage.
For people who might not know Urinetown beyond its title, how would you describe the experience of seeing it live?
What do you hope audiences walk away feeling or thinking?
Andrew: We always aim to give our audiences that unmistakable feeling of joy that only musicals can give. It’s going to be fun, immersive, and unlike anything people have experienced before. I also hope people leave thinking a bit more critically about each of our roles in the economic, political and environmental systems that we live within.
Urinetown will be running at the Liberty Theatre in Perth from 7–15 November. Get your tickets here.
