SAVOY! at the Edinburgh Fringe

Aim

We’re taking our beloved show, SAVOY! Everybody’s Doing It to the Ed Fringe, and we need your support!

ABOUT SAVOY!

SAVOY! Everybody’s Doing It - our unapologetic relationship comedy that tears the illusion of modern marriage to pieces - is heading to the Ed Fringe! An uplifting collection of world-famous operettas staged with a brave contemporary twist, SAVOY! will entangle you in blushful stories of passionate affairs, mischievous gossip, and light-hearted romances. The musical lineup includes songs from West End and Broadway hit operettas such as ‘Ball at the Savoy’ and ‘Riviera Girl’, reviving them for the first time since before the World Wars, mixed into a cabaret-style interactive show written by Julia Joy & Bernadett Swann. As we prepare to bring our beloved show to the Fringe, we need your support to cover production costs, venue fees, and promotional expenses.

Watch a short trailer of the show here.

SAVOY! is a spectacular show that blends Eastern European cultural heritage with Western contemporary musical theatre, offering a unique fusion of tradition and innovation. Driven to nurture and revisit the operetta heritage of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - Director-choreographer Julia Joy, with her personal background as a native Hungarian creative, proudly brings her authentic heritage into the world of British musical theatre. On the other hand, SAVOY! is bold, brave, and groundbreaking new writing - a cabaret-style comedy script that addresses one thing we all have in common: relationships. If you’ve ever been in love (with the wrong person), if you’ve ever been in a relationship, if you’ve ever wanted to get out of a relationship, if you’ve ever been that third person, if you’ve ever had an affair, if you’ve ever thought of an affair, if you've never thought of an affair, if you’re happily wed and have no intentions of ever changing that, this show was written for you! Abs sore from laughter, moments of unapologetic honesty, tear-filled eyes and life-changing revelations are guaranteed.

(Original cast SAVOY! 2022 - Photo by Botond Bartha)

HOW IT STARTED

SAVOY! began as a passion project in 2022, born from our desire to bring a piece of our cultural heritage to London—a production that authentically represents us while seamlessly integrating into the British musical theatre landscape. With the invaluable support of the Hungarian Cultural Centre, the original production premiered at the Phoenix Arts Club in London. Initially envisioned as a collection of scenes and songs from operettas, SAVOY! quickly transformed into a more substantial production. The necessity to improve coherence and modernise the content became apparent, leading to the writing of additional segments that better aligned with our creative vision. The newly written sections quickly emerged as the show's primary asset, and the narrator emerged as the lead character of the story — a figure both divine and human, endowed with superpowers and vast knowledge. This narrator possesses insights into all matters of relationships and delights in manipulating the mortals around her for her own amusement. Drawing inspiration from iconic literary characters such as Puck from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," Tinkerbell from "Peter Pan," and Esther Perel, the globally renowned couples therapist, the narrator swiftly became the focal point of the narrative. The success of the initial performances has encouraged us to dive deeper into our writing endeavours, resulting in the current, brand new, thought-provoking version of the script.

(Original cast SAVOY! 2022: Julia Joy, Will Thompson-Brant, Kilke John, Sam Walter, Rosa Lennox, Bernadett Swann. Photo by Bernadett Swann)

WHY WE’RE GOING TO THE FRINGE

We're heading to the Fringe because we wholeheartedly believe in SAVOY! as a fantastic show with excellent potential. Our passion for this production stems from our belief in its promising future, and at the Fringe, we'll be dedicated to connecting with producers, investors, and promoters who are the right fit for our vision. Our ultimate goal is to bring SAVOY! back to London next year for a proper run. However, our success at the Fringe is crucial to this endeavor. That's why we're eager to swiftly secure funding, allowing us to focus all our time and energy on the creative work. Your support will enable us to make the most of our Fringe experience and lay the groundwork for SAVOY!'s future success.

(Original cast SAVOY! 2022 - Photo by Botond Bartha)

WHO WE ARE

We're Julia Joy (www.juliajoy.co.uk) and Norbert Potornai (www.norbertpotornai.com), the founders of NP&JOY Entertainment. With a decade of experience as producers and lead creatives at Budapest-based Coincidance Ballet Theatre, we've curated and crafted numerous successful shows such as "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," "Aurora," and "Fairplay." Our productions have toured many stages across the globe, captivating audiences in countries including Mexico, Israel, Germany, Denmark, Italy, and beyond. Julia Joy (Gyulai), recently choreographed the Budapest premiere of "Blood Brothers" and the Austrian tour of "Hair." Her performance credits include iconic shows such as "Chicago," "Evita," and "Gone With the Wind." Together, we form a dynamic creative producer duo, committed to delivering excellence. When we take on a project, success isn’t just a chance - it’s assured!

Check out some of our past work on the links below:

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Fairplay

HOW WE’LL USE THE MONEY

The funds raised from our crowdfunding campaign will directly support our production costs, accommodations, and, crucially, venue rental fees. The Edinburgh Fringe presents an unparalleled opportunity for us, but to make the most out of it, we need significant financial support. Stay updated on our progress and preparations for our August run by following us on our social channels: 

Instagram: @savoymusical 

Facebook: @savoythemusical

Website: www.savoymusical.com. 

Should our fundraising efforts exceed expectations and ticket sales surpass projections, rest assured that any surplus funds will be reinvested into our future projects. While our initial crowdfunding goal is set at £4500, our overall budget far surpasses this amount. Your support, no matter the size, is invaluable to us.

This project successfully funded on 11th April 2024