Did you know that Philip Reeve, the award-winning novelist whose Mortal Engines has just been made into a major motion picture care of The Lord of the Rings‘ Peter Jackson, also writes musicals?
As part of her ongoing post-show Q&A series, on Thursday 31 January 2019, Mates co-founder Terri Paddock will talk to him and the company of The Ministry of Biscuits. Got any questions?
Stop! Think before you eat that biscuit! Is it in any way fancy? If so, then you are a criminal!
Get all social media for The Ministry of Biscuits & its cast on www.stagefaves.com
In post-war London, The Ministry of Biscuits casts its sinister shadow over every tea-time and elevenses in the land. Established to “control biscuits, and to control the idea of biscuits,” it prohibits decadent sweetmeats, such as the Gypsy Cream. But when Cedric Hobson, a junior designer, falls in love and designs a biscuit to “shake confectionery to its very foundations,” his world – and the ministry – are turned upside down.
The Ministry of Biscuits is inspired by 1940s British Light Music, George Orwell’s 1984 and The Ealing Comedies. This satirical musical fantasy is a unique collaboration between the hugely popular novelist Philip Reeve and playwright and composer Brian Mitchell.
Philip Reeve is winner of The Carnegie Medal, the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Award, whose best-selling novel Mortal Engines is now a major motion picture produced by The Lord of The Rings director Peter Jackson (picture above of Reeve at the film premiere). Mitchell’s credits include Those Magnificent Men and Big Daddy Vs. Giant Haystacks.
“The freshest comedy in years… Absolutely hilarious, this is satire at its best” – Edinburgh Evening News
“What an absolutely ripping wheeze…a top-hole musical comedy without a trace of Lloyd Webber anywhere… A highly entertaining, clever show, packed with neat one-liners” – The Stage
“A wonderful cast… Terrific fun and a very entertaining evening” – Brighton Argus
“Wonderfully done, delightful and one of the best family shows on the Fringe” – The List
The Ministry of Biscuits comes to London following a sell-out 35-date national tour. Mitchell is joined in the cast by BBC Radio 4 regular David Mounfield (Geoffrey in Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show), Amy Mount and Murray Simon in this highly entertaining and unique show – original, hilarious, and infectiously tuneful entertainment for audiences of all ages.
The Ministry of Biscuits runs from 29 Jan-10 Feb 2019
Terri Paddock founded WhatsOnStage.com and the WhatsOnStage Awards, running the company and its events from 1996 to 2013. Terri is also the author of two novels, Come Clean and Beware the Dwarfs, and has previously written for the Evening Standard, Independent, The Times and other national publications. She is renowned for her 'legendary' post-show Q&As and also produces the annual Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and acts as a digital, content strategy and event consultant for theatre, producers and other clients. She tweets about theatre at @TerriPaddock.
