ELON MUSK: Lost in Space, Theatro Technis
Our Camden Fringe 2025 interviews keep on coming. We’re edging clsoer to the 100 target we set as a way to give you a real taste of what’s to come when this festival opens on 28 July. You can find all our currently published interviews here.
Love him or loathe him, there’s no escaping hearing news about Elon Musk recently. Whether it’s his on-off relationship with Donald Trump, or his attempts to get into space, or his destruction of Twitter, he is never too far from another headline. And now he is not far from staring in his own Camden Fringe show. Or at least Ben Whitehead‘s portrayal of him in David Morley‘s show, which promises an action-packed, satirical epic that looks inside his scary mind to find out what’s really going on in there.
We caught up with Ben, David and Sarah Lawrie to find out more about ELON MUSK: Lost In Space before it finds its way to Theatro Technis on 1 and 2 August (tickets here).
What can audiences expect from the show?
Laughs, drama, space travel, Donald Trump’s madness, plot twists, and Elon Musk dancing like Mick Jagger.
But don’t expect snacks… in space no one can order ice cream.
Oh, and the man himself is played by Ben Whitehead (the voice of Wallace in Wallace and Gromit) as you’ve never seen or heard him before.
We will also be continually adapting the script as the world (and Musk) continues to unravel in the lead up to Fringe, so watch this SPACE.
Is Camden Fringe going to be the show’s first time on stage, or have you already performed elsewhere?
This will be the world premiere of the show ahead of its two week run at The Grand Theatre at The Space UK at this year’s EdFringe (11 – 23 August, tickets here)
Theatro Technis was the perfect place for us to preview the show, home of the legendary Camden-based Scene & Heard, where Ben and Sarah first met as long standing volunteer theatre professionals for the charity.
What was your inspiration behind the show?
David: Discovering when I produced a radio documentary about Elon Musk, that he had been bullied so badly at school he had buried himself in science fiction. He is now the richest man on planet earth, and he wants to live out his childhood space fantasies.
How long have you been working on the play?
David: All my life!
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
David: When I started to write it, about 18 months ago, Musk hadn’t gone over to the dark side. Since then, I have changed my views on him and the story has evolved to reflect that.
What was it that drew you to this show and role?
Sarah: What is not to love about the idea of playing a robot? But in all honesty, it’s a dream of a team. David and Ben are insanely talented, and we have Olivier-nominated John Nicholson from Peepolykus at the directorial helm which is proper pinch-yourself stuff (he did the movement direction on Accidental Death of an Anarchist in the West End). I’ve always wanted to try my hand at clowning and slapstick and this show absolutely affords me that opportunity. I am also very left wing and this show definitely aligns with my political persuasions. I wouldn’t do it otherwise.
Ben: It’s the kind of scripted show that I haven’t been working around in recent years and I wanted to take on something fresh and challenging. I immediately saw that outside the written aspect, there was a great deal of physical comedy potential which I enjoy . Playing a well known public figure who I personally did not know very well until recently also brings enticing challenges of creative exploration and experimentation.
What is it about your character that you most enjoy?
Sarah: Her irreverence and stealth. The play is actually quite Freudian in terms of themes and there are loads of interesting dynamics to play in terms of the pendulum swing of power (I play Musk’s next generation A.I. assistant who undergoes some plot-twisting software updates over the course of the play). I am also really enjoying wearing gold latex.
Ben: Exploration! Trying to find the humanity in him. I’m still undecided about the reference figure! He’s a curious fellow, despite his unwanted meddling in European politics and rampant dismantling decent, proven structure, I think some of his energy goes in the correct place. For instance into space. I would quite like him to succeed in getting off the planet.
How challenging has this role been for you?
Sarah: Super challenging (in a good way). Playing a non-human character comes with its own unique set of challenges, but we have the incredible Mandy Gordon as Movement Director and her work is pure sorcery.
Ben: The challenging thing at the moment is having to watch and observe Elon Musk. Will an audience care about this man enough to watch a characterisation of him for an hour? There are also moments of intense physical comedy which are quite demanding with my current level of fitness. I’ll need to up the training sessions before August.
What brought you all together?
Sarah: David and I met through the world of Radio 4, and Perfectly Normal Theatre is a new company we have founded to build on our combined wealth of experience in radio and theatre respectively. Ben and I know each other through aforementioned Scene & Heard. The quest to find our Elon was a long one but, just before Christmas, I saw Ben across a crowded room at a party he threw and had a lightbulb moment. He’s a miraculous shapeshifter though he is (to be fair) too good looking to be a properly passable Musk. Let’s call it artistic licence. In terms of the rest of the team, David has worked extensively with Sony Award winning Chris O’Shaughnessy who we have on board as composer and sound designer, and I have previously worked with the fabulous Mandy Gordon who is movement directing the piece.
Being a fringe festival, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this with your set and props?
It’s a challenge for sure, especially for a play set on a spaceship! We’re relying quite heavily on video and lighting design and are thrilled to have Al Orange working with us on these elements who came highly recommended to us.
What has been the biggest challenge in realising the writer’s vision for the show?
The constant need for rewrites! We are having to keep up with Musk’s antics on an almost daily basis to ensure that the play remains current.
Are there any plans for what comes next after the show has finished its run – for you or the show?
We hope for this inaugural production from Perfectly Normal Theatre to lead to plenty of future ventures for the company, and – as for the play itself – to infinity and beyond…
If you had to describe your show as a colour what would it be?
David: Black – like Musk’s heart.
If you had to describe your show as a meal what would it be?
A great big paella… one course, one dish, lots of different tasty things to chew on.
If your show had a soundtrack what songs would definitely be on it?
Our show already has an original soundtrack – written by the great Sony Award winning Chris O’Shaughnessy.
If you could perform this show anywhere in the world where would it be?
We think it ought to be performed “off world”. Preferably on Mars.
If budget or reality was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery/set you’d love to have in your show?
An actual wormhole.
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received during your career, and how has it influenced your work on this show?
Play the long game and keep the faith.
What words of advice/encouragement would you give anyone thinking about doing Camden Fringe next year?
Do it! A fringe festival is more than just a sweetshop of exciting work, it’s a community, and being a part of it can bear surprising fruit.
Is there a question missing that you feel we should be asking you?
Is Elon aware of our play? (No… not yet, at least.)
Our thanks to David, Sarah and Ben for finding the time to chat. ELON MUSK: Lost in Space play at Theatro Technis on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 August.
