An epic joyride from the dawn of civilisation to the sequinned near future, The original cast recording of Insane Animals, a brand new musical comedy from the warped minds of cult cabaret duo Bourgeois & Maurice, performed by a cast of eight, will be released on March 1st 2021.
Premiering at HOME, Manchester in March 2020, Insane Animals ran for three weeks becoming one of the venue’s best-selling shows to date. This Original Cast Recording brings music from the hit stage show back to life in all its harmonious, hilarious and heartfelt glory.
The story begins in the present day with humanity facing extinction by way of multiple threats, from meteor collision and environmental collapse to desperate old men clinging to power. However, “there is hope”, sing Bourgeois and Maurice…and it lies somewhere in the first story that humans ever wrote down: The Epic of Gilgamesh.
The Epic of Gilgamesh tells of the relationship between Gilgamesh, a cruel and tyrannical king, and Enkidu, a gentle wild man. The Gods tell Gilgamesh to love Enkidu “like a wife”, making this arguably the world’s first queer love story. When Enkidu is killed by the Gods, Gilgamesh goes on a quest to defeat death and find the secret to eternal life. In Bourgeois & Maurice’s retelling of the story, this quest takes him – and his alien guides – on a time travelling journey to the near-present future where he discovers a strange and terrifying new world of science, technology and transhumanism.
The stage production was directed by Phillip McMahon whose credits include THISISPOPBABY and Panti Bliss High Heels in Low Places. The album features the original eight-strong cast from the Manchester premiere, including the distinctive vocals of multi-platinum selling recording artist Lockie Chapman (previously of The Overtones). Musical arrangements come courtesy of the stage show’s award-winning Musical Director Victoria Falconer (Courtney Act’s Channel 4 Christmas Special, Hot Brown Honey).
Released one year after its premiere at HOME Manchester and funded in part by a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Original Cast Recording marks the next step in the Insane Animals journey – COVID-19 has paused future tour plans but the production will return. Until then, audiences can enjoy each of the 16 songs from the show in all their glittering, slyly subversive magnificence.
George Heyworth & Liv Morris (Bourgeois & Maurice) say: “Insane Animals is the biggest and most ambitious show we’ve ever been involved with. After 3 years in development, the premiere at HOME in March was beyond our wildest dreams – a result of the incredible team we had working with us. We’re so excited to share all the songs from the show with the world and we can’t wait to get the full production back on its feet when life goes back to being a bit more normal-ish.”
