A Manchester theatre company is heading to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a new musical comedy that asks what would happen if a certain red-swimsuit-clad American lifeguard washed up on a grey British beach instead of sun-soaked Santa Monica.
Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue, from Manchester-based Low Fat Productions, is a new original musical inspired by the iconic 90s lifeguard drama, set in the fictional seaside town of Spray. Stranded and desperate to get home, the lifeguard has one shot: whip the local lifeguards, and the town itself, into shape and top the global beach rankings. But the waters of Spray run darker than they look, and something sinister lurking beneath the surface threatens to drag her plans under.
Backed by a soundtrack of 80s and 90s pop-rock bangers, the show promises laughs first but has more going on under the surface, tackling beauty, ambition, identity and belonging as the cracks start to show.
Writer, composer and director Hywel Evans, who has spent over 15 years in radio working with stations including XS Manchester and Rock FM, said the show was inspired by two very different childhood obsessions:
“I grew up in the 90s fascinated by two main bizarre things – the muppets and glamorous mainstream TV. I wanted to explore ideas of perfection relevant today but ultimately leave the audience with the feeling I got from the muppets – happiness. The show doesn’t contain muppets. It’s a vibe.”
Cast member and executive producer Abbie Ashall added: “Expect a parody and you’ll be surprised. This show is as hilarious as it is unexpectedly moving — a big, bold musical with something real to say.”
It’s a notable Fringe debut for Evans, whose directing credits include national theatre tours for Theatr Clwyd, among them the award-winning To Kill a Mockingbird.
Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue plays at theSpace @ Niddry, Lower Theatre, from 7–29 August (not 16). Performances run 7–15 August at 21:45 and 17–29 August at 19:30. Tickets are available now via https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/spraywatch-a-beautiful-rescue
