Congratulations to the UK Urinetown team for winning the West End Wilma Award for Most Underrated West End Show, beating Made in Dagenham and Just Jim Dale to first place.

Commiserations to Jenna Russel for just missing out on Best Actress in a Play or Musical. We thought you were brilliant!

Special mention to Carrie for winning Best Off-West End Show, must have been down to our David Bowman’s hard work, we reckon!

For the full list of winners visit the West End Wilma Site here. 

What is Urinetown – The Musical? Don’t be put off by the title. It’s twisted, it’s dark, and it’s hilarious!

Winner of three TONY Awards, Urinetown is a tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold.

A musical satire set in a fictional future where a terrible drought has crippled the city. Water is so scarce that the government enforces a ban on all private toilets in an effort to control water. The citizens must now use pay-per-use toilets owned and operated by a corrupt corporation. Those who try to dodge the fee risk being taken away to “Urinetown”, a mysterious place where many have been sent but no one ever returns. The oppressed masses rise up under the leadership of Bobby Strong, a hero who decides he’s had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Will they win? The only way to find out is to see Urinetown – The Musical.

Urinetown started a trend of ironic, self-aware, breaking the fourth wall shows that spawned the likes of The Producers and Book of Mormon. Combining social themes that are relevant to today’s climates with an outrageous perspective, wickedly modern wit and the magic of musical theatre the show produces gales of unbridled laughter.

Urinetown is unique, everything a musical should be and somehow more. Its clever lyrics, brilliant script and captivating score were praised for reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical could be. It is hilariously funny and touchingly honest. Providing a fresh perspective on ‘the musical’ it parodies everything from the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics, climate change to musical theatre itself!

One of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, Urinetown has been praised for reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical could be. Catapulting the “comedic romp” into the new millennium with its outrageous perspective, wickedly modern wit, and sustained ability to produce gales of unbridled laughter.

SMP will be bringing Urinetown to the Millfield theatre in June 2016, keep watching our website for more updates on the show.

We’re pleased to announce that our production team for Urinetown is such a strong line up. We’re lucky to have such an experienced team who have been involved in many SMP productions before behind the show to make sure it’s one not to miss.

The Team

Director – Warren McWilliams

Musical Director – Mike Benyon

Choreographer – Jo Bakhurst

Producer – Lisa Stamford

Production Designer – Adrian Gee

Stage Manager – Alex Snow

Lighting Design – Matthew Herd

Sound Design – Phil Stannard

Costumes – Fay Kemal & Ellie Goss

Here’s their thoughts on the show…

Director Warren McWilliams says:

“Urinetown is unique, you can’t liken it to anything else. It’s just brilliant. With so many modern musicals being lightweight and fluffy it’s great to have something with a bit of substance to it. Its Brechtian tones have the audience questioning who’s right and wrong, and what the results of our actions are but rather cleverly Urinetown manages to do it whilst you sit tapping your feet along to the music in fits of laughter.”

Musical Director, Mike Benyon says:

“Damn you Mr McWilliams. Just as I was planning a spring break from musical direction to concentrate on improving my golf handicap you come along and throw the truly magnificent Urinetown at me. My plans for qualifying for next year’s Open are in tatters and I will have to comfort myself that SMP are producing possibly the best show to hit London’s West End in the last 10 years!”

Choreographer, Jo Bakhurst says:

“I’m so excited to be choreographing Urinetown that I have peed my pants” (She couldn’t afford to pay)

In June 2016 we’ll be returning to the Millfield Theatre with the brilliant musical Urinetown.

The show isn’t that well known so we’re going to help spread the word about what a great show it is.

Keep popping back as, over time, we’ll be updating this thread with pictures, videos and all the info you need to find out just ‘What is Urinetown?’