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Show History
History
Inspiration
The Roman Invasion of Ramsbottom, a musical comedy with book and lyrics by Jeremy James Taylor (founding artistic director of the National Youth Music Theatre) and music by David Nield, is a lighthearted take on life in ancient Rome. Set in ninth-century Roman Britannia, the book is extremely anachronistic, combining constructing chariot roadways with Don Baloni and his plan to turn England into a series of Italian take-out restaurants. The creators admit that much of their humor in the musical derives from the British comedy group, Monty Python.
Productions
The Roman Invasion of Ramsbottom premiered with the National Youth Music Theatre, then known as Children's Music Theatre Limited, in 1980. It opened at the George Square Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won a Fringe First Award. Most notably, Granada Television filmed and broadcast a performance of the musical on Boxing Day (December 26) on British national television. The NYMT also put up another production in 1987.
Trivia
- Matt Lucas, known for his performances in Les Misérables and the films, Alice in Wonderland and Bridesmaids, performed in the original production of The Roman Invasion of Ramsbottom.
- The show was originally written for, and performed with, younger actors. According to the Production Notes in the script, "there is absolutely no reason, however, why the piece should not be done with older children, adults or a combination of all three."