Sam Varley stars as Alfie in Birmingham Stage Company’s adaptation of David Walliams’ Demon Dentist which will make its London première at the Bloomsbury Theatre this Christmas.
Neal Foster directs this world premiere production which has been touring since September coinciding with the Birmingham Stage Company’s 30th anniversary. The company has previously been nominated for Olivier Awards for its productions of David Walliams’ Billionaire Boy and Gangsta Granny.
Demon Dentist, starring Sam Varley, is at Bloomsbury Theatre 15 December 2022 – 8 January 2023.
You’re starring in Demon Dentist on tour. What can you tell us about the show?
Demon Dentist is a spooky comedy for the whole family. Alfie is faced with his worst nightmare when he discovers that the towns’ new dentist is not all that she seems.
The show is an outrageously funny mystery caper that tells a beautiful story about familial love and learning to accept help from the people in your life.
Why do you think David Walliams’ books translate so well to the stage?
The common thread between all of David’s books is that they all tell stories about everyday things that will relate to most children’s lives, but because they are told through the eyes of a child protagonist, every event feels larger-than-life.
Theatre as a medium allows us to present things in a huge way with large set pieces and bombastic music, but is also a personal enough setting to accurately capture the quieter, more intimate moments.
For that reason David’s stories seem like they’re begging to be put on stage, none more so than Demon Dentist! It’s the most epic, exuberant and thrilling story yet with a beautiful and important message at the heart of it.
Birmingham Stage Company have already adapted three David Walliams books, what is it you love about the way they approach it?
Our director, Neal Foster has adapted and directed all of the Walliams shows and I was lucky enough to see Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy in preparation for the job. When chatting with Neal we spoke about the importance of having respect for a younger audience within a show like this one.
It’s completely family friendly, but we do touch on a few heavier topics such as grief, poverty and disability. I think it’s so important in pieces like this that we don’t shy away from those topics, because most kids are affected by them or know a child who is and need to see themselves and their peers represented in a respectful light.
BSC’s past productions had a beautiful way of teaching kids’ important life lessons- Gangsta Granny taught about tackling grief and respecting the elderly, Billionaire Boy taught about the corrupting power of money. Neal’s direction has resonated with thousands and thousands of young people and Demon Dentist, I believe, is both his funniest and most moving work yet.
You’re playing Alfie. What are you enjoying most, and what are you finding challenging about the role?
Alfie feels like an important character to me because he is a young carer, which is something that you don’t ever really see represented in children’s media. It’s so important that kids going through these things can see other characters like themselves and know that they aren’t alone.
He’s also just so beautifully written and multifaceted that it’s hard not to see a lot of myself in him- he’s awkward, anxious childish and nervous but also extremely funny and compassionate and selfless to a fault, and despite his crippling fear of failure, he continues to fight simply because he knows it’s the right thing to do. It’s an honour as an actor to be playing such a wonderful, flawed, realistic character that children can recognise themselves in and be inspired by.
What’s it been like taking a show made for kids out on the road?
We’ve loved it! The really great thing about Demon Dentist is that although it’s great for kids, it’s really more of a family show. The story is so universal that its magic, humour and heart are exciting and touching for audiences of all ages. It’s been so rewarding to get to take the piece all over the country so that people from all different walks of life get to experience it.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Demon Dentist?
Do yourself a favour and come on down! I know I might be biased, but I genuinely don’t think there’s anything else quite like Demon Dentist- the weird and wacky world that David has created is exciting, hilarious, and unique. You won’t want to miss it!
Demon Dentist, starring Sam Varley, is at Bloomsbury Theatre 15 December 2022 – 8 January 2023.
