Grayson Perry’s life story to be told in ‘bad’ music | Section

The life story of Grayson Perry is to be told in a new “dirty” musical created by the creator of Jerry Springer: The Opera.

Grayson the Musical is a portrait of the artist from his childhood in Chelmsford to international fame as a Turner Prize-winning ceramicist, tapestry-maker and frock-lover. As well as fancy dress, the show will include a supporting role by Alan Measles, the beloved teddy bear. shown in Perry’s work.

“When I started thinking about turning my life into a song, I realized that it already has some serious stuff – questionable fashion choices and social anxiety among them,” Perry said. “Underneath all the humor, there’s a story of trying to figure out who you are and if you can really be one. A sentiment that many can relate to.”

There will be five production performances in July, before moving on. It will be shown on Soho Theater Walthamstow in East London where Perry kept a studio for many years. One of his most famous works is The Walthamstow Tapestrywhich shows the seven generations of man and is decorated with hundreds of tribal names.

Sean Foley will direct the musical, which is described as an “irreverent odyssey” as Perry navigates “discovery, creativity and self-acceptance through a broken marriage, career disasters and other life lessons from a six-legged bear named Alan”. Perry wrote the lyrics, music by Richard Thomas who starred in Jerry Springer: The Opera and the book is by Sara-Ella Ozbek, best known as a screenwriter and novelist. According to the press, it’s a show “about growing up and embracing who you are, touching on topics of family, support, art and, of course, makeup – you know, all the music of the game”.

Perry told the story of his life in the book Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girlwritten by Wendy Jones, published in 2006. Last year she toured a stage show titled, Are You Good? which explored morals and demonstrated audience participation as well as other music. The play Grayson the Musical from 16 to 19 July.