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It was all set to take the world by storm before COVID-19 hit, but the smash-hit musical Fangirls has finally landed in Canberra. Kicking off Canberra Theatre’s much awaited 2021 calendar, the much-anticipated musical has already taken the country by storm, even though many have never heard of it. Cast member James Majoos said the show was not a musical, but “a mini-pop concert … with a few surprises in between”. Described as a production which “smashes all generational generalisations”, Fangirls follows “misfit scholarship girl” Edna, and her quest to win over wildly famous pop star Harry. He has 38 million fans, but for Edna and other teens like her, that’s “merely a hurdle … because there’s nothing she won’t do to meet Harry”. Written by Yve Blake and directed by Paige Rattray, Fangirls premiered in 2019 to sold-out crowds and took out several awards – including the Sydney Theatre Award for best musical. Majoos, a 21-year-old graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, plays the character “Salty Pringl”, a prolific fictional writer who acts as the confidant to main character Edna. Majoos said the characters were purposefully presented in stereotype, but displayed “so much soul and character”, which spoke to the heart of the show. “[It’s about] young people who have the ability to love unapologetically,” they said. And despite the focus on the young, hyper-obsessed teenage fangirl, the musical “speaks to everybody, young and old”. Like many other actors, Majoos experienced a pause in life after enduring lockdowns in Melbourne, and said it was “damaging for creatives”. To be back to “bring theatre to people’s … feels surreal”, they said. Majoos, who identifies as non-binary, said they were privileged to play such a role in Fangirls, as such identities had been traditionally neglected from the stage. And to the young people who were looking to get into the arts and entertainment industry, Majoos said to “keep it up and cherish your individuality”.
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It was all set to take the world by storm before COVID-19 hit, but the smash-hit musical Fangirls has finally landed in Canberra.
Kicking off Canberra Theatre’s much awaited 2021 calendar, the much-anticipated musical has already taken the country by storm, even though many have never heard of it.
Cast member James Majoos said the show was not a musical, but “a mini-pop concert … with a few surprises in between”.
Described as a production which “smashes all generational generalisations”, Fangirls follows “misfit scholarship girl” Edna, and her quest to win over wildly famous pop star Harry.
He has 38 million fans, but for Edna and other teens like her, that’s “merely a hurdle … because there’s nothing she won’t do to meet Harry”.
Written by Yve Blake and directed by Paige Rattray, Fangirls premiered in 2019 to sold-out crowds and took out several awards – including the Sydney Theatre Award for best musical.
Majoos, a 21-year-old graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, plays the character “Salty Pringl”, a prolific fictional writer who acts as the confidant to main character Edna.
Majoos said the characters were purposefully presented in stereotype, but displayed “so much soul and character”, which spoke to the heart of the show.
“[It’s about] young people who have the ability to love unapologetically,” they said.
And despite the focus on the young, hyper-obsessed teenage fangirl, the musical “speaks to everybody, young and old”.
Like many other actors, Majoos experienced a pause in life after enduring lockdowns in Melbourne, and said it was “damaging for creatives”.
To be back to “bring theatre to people’s … feels surreal”, they said.
Majoos, who identifies as non-binary, said they were privileged to play such a role in Fangirls, as such identities had been traditionally neglected from the stage.
And to the young people who were looking to get into the arts and entertainment industry, Majoos said to “keep it up and cherish your individuality”.
