Acclaimed comedians and performers from around the world have been confirmed to join the cast of Lars von Trier’s The Boss of It All when it livestreams 18th – 20th September. The film has been adapted for Zoom, updating the office comedy to a work from home set up, by New Perspectives Artistic Director Jack McNamara based on his previous stage version. For every performance a different special guest will Zoom in live from their homes, ranging from London, Los Angeles and Mumbai, to play the enigmatic Icelandic boss Finnur in the final scene.
The opening performance on 18th September will feature international cabaret sensation, Le Gateau Chocolat, followed by Indian comedian Anuvab Pal and America’s $1 Funnyman Neil Hamburger on the 19th at 4pm and 8pm respectively. Game of Thrones star Gemma Whelan will be performing alongside her husband, comedian Gerry Howell, for the 4pm show the 20th, and finally the evening show that day will feature Los Angeles based clown and comedian Natalie Palamides (Nate).
They join an already stellar cast including Josie Lawrence, Jamie De Courcey, Ross Armstrong, Rachel Summers, David Alade, Angela Bain and Japanese comedian Yuriko Kotani.
Artistic Director Jack McNamara said, “We wanted to give our live audiences a real treat with a special guest who appeared just for them. These are some of the most inventive, beautifully off-the-wall people in contemporary comedy and performance and it is a serious thrill to have them on board with this production. They will each add such a distinctive flavor to the show they appear in, making each performance a one of a kind for the audience. I cannot wait to see my own script pulled in a wholly unexpected directions by each guest!”
The office comedy drama was originally presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013 to widespread critical acclaim before transferring to Soho Theatre. In 2020 the office setting has now become a remote working set up, with the action taking place via a series of Zoom meetings.
For years the boss of an IT company has tricked his staff into believing he is simply another co-worker. So when he needs a ‘real’ boss to help close the deal of a lifetime, he hires an actor to play the role. What could possibly go wrong? Marking one of Lars von Trier’s rare forays into comedy, this distinctive and eccentric exploration of office politics has been rewritten for the stage by Jack McNamara following its hit premiere seven years ago. The play has since been performed around the world
