Seven years after launching Gigglemug Theatre at university, Sam Cochrane is bringing back two of the company’s most successful shows. With Scouts! The Musical heading out on tour in June and A Jaffa Cake Musical returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this August, Sam reflects on the journey, the joys of writing about unlikely subjects, and what audiences can expect this summer.
“We were creating shows at uni and taking them to the Fringe, our first one being Timpson the Musical back in 2018. We didn’t expect the reaction we got and it made sense to keep doing it. That set up this signature formula for us, working with different organisations to create shows about them.”
While previous musicals were made in partnership with brands, A Jaffa Cake Musical was different. “They’ve seen it, they enjoy it, but McVitie’s have a blanket rule that they don’t work with organisations on musicals. We decided it was too good a story not to create. It was a bit scary at first because we didn’t have the backing of a big organisation, but it turned out to be one of our most successful shows. Scouts and Jaffa both are probably our biggest shows. It’s really nice to be bringing them both back this year.”
This summer is Gigglemug’s most ambitious yet. “A Jaffa Cake Musical will be previewing in Bath at the end of July and then up to Fringe for the whole month. Scouts is touring for all of June – Birmingham, Manchester, London and Bath. They both feel like real summer shows. It’s really nice to be bringing back two shows that we really love and doing them both for the last time.”
The idea for Scouts! The Musical came from Sam’s fascination with the organisation’s theatrical potential. “I always thought a Scouts musical would be really interesting. It’s such an established organisation, known globally. Everything they stand for is very similar to what makes a good musical. I met David Fallon, who I asked to do the music, not realising he was involved in the Scouts when he was younger. We approached the Scouts and after a couple of years of conversations and sending scripts back and forth, it all came together. The Scouts were always very open to the idea and really embraced the silliness.”
The show has resonated with audiences, particularly Scout groups. “Those shows were always some of the most fun because they got so into it. It was awesome to look out at the audience and see seas of Scouts in their uniforms. You don’t need to know anything about the Scouts to enjoy it.”
Touring the show felt important. “The show in London went down really well, but I knew it wasn’t the final version. We’ve written some new songs and scenes. Now it feels like the definitive version. We wanted to take it north and into the Midlands to make it easier for more groups to see it.”
Casting brings both familiar and new faces. “Four cast members are coming back. Everyone was invited back because they were all brilliant, but some people are busy. We’ve got a couple of new faces who are equally brilliant and talented. It always blows my mind the musicality of the cast members we can get on board.”
Sam is especially proud of the actor-musician format. “Scouts is an actor-musician show and it is amazing what the cast members do, playing multiple instruments, sometimes at the same time, swapping mid-song. It really pushes the limits of what can be done.”
Last year, A Jaffa Cake Musical was a surprise smash at the Fringe. “We’ve been lucky enough to sell out shows before, but never a whole run. I couldn’t get used to the fact we didn’t need to flyer. This year, we’re in a bigger venue and have a bigger band – a percussionist and a bassist, both doubling as ensemble members, to give it a fuller sound.”
The musical is based on the real life 1991 tribunal which saw McVitie’s face off against HMRC as they tried to prove that a Jaffa Cake is a cake rather than a biscuit, the outcome would determine whether or not the product was subject to VAT.
The show’s central debate – is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit? – remains up for discussion, last year audience members were asked to share their opinion after seeing the show. “We’ll be doing that again. Last year, Team Cake won quite significantly, but who knows, maybe Biscuit will bring it back. People’s minds do change during the show, but some have very strong opinions. That’s the beauty of it.”
For Sam, the real-life tribunal at the heart of A Jaffa Cake Musical was irresistible. “I think just the ludicrousness of it all was what attracted me to it. Our shows are normally very wacky and silly anyway. The really cool thing about this, because this is the first time we’ve written a show about a true story, was that the story itself was crazy enough.”
“We’ve created these fictional lawyer characters to give a through line to the whole thing. Other than that, all the arguments made are totally true. I won’t spoil the finale of the show, but what happens is actually what happened in the court itself. It is absolutely mad.”
With two major shows running back-to-back, Sam’s summer is packed. “Two weeks rehearsals in May for Scouts, then touring all of June. Then rehearsals for Jaffa and all of August performing. It will be a full on few months, but it’s very exciting.”
As Gigglemug Theatre prepares for their busiest summer yet, Sam Cochrane is ready to bring their biggest shows to new audiences. Whether you’re ready to join Scouts! The Musical on tour or settle the great debate at A Jaffa Cake Musical in Edinburgh, don’t miss your chance to be part of the fun.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
