HOW TO DATE LIKE A F@#$%^! GROWNUP – A MUSICAL FOR GEN Z

Somerset West audiences are in for a treat! While the entertainment industry was shut down and we were forced to stay indoors, VR Theatrical thought it the perfect time to start developing a new project: a small-scale original musical with a catchy title that would aim to make theatre relevant to younger audiences.  And so, the idea for HOW TO DATE LIKE A F*#$ING GROWNUP! was born.

What is it about? Tinder. Bumble. Grindr. Wishing. Hoping. Swiping. The way in which we meet potential partners has shifted dramatically in the last decade. Ever feel like you’ve been thrown into a pool of millions of potential partners, but nobody has taught you how to swim?  Adulting is hard. And so is dating. Even with all these new technologies. As the title suggests, HOW TO DATE LIKE A F*#$ING GROWNUP! offers a guide to the do’s and don’ts of modern dating (with a little more emphasis on the don’ts!).

We’re not saying we have all the answers. Heck, we’re not even saying you should listen to our advice, but we’ve got a few pertinent and potentially hilarious tips for helping you find, or just deal with, that special someone… Through a series of hilarious (and some close-to-the-bone) vignettes and songs, this production explores human connection and how, despite all the technological advances, there is still no substitute for falling in love.

After extensive market research, we realised that books with expletives in the title had great appeal in the 20 – 30 year old market,” Wessel Odendaal from VRT. “Books ranging in genre from cook books to self-help all seemed to fare well, so we decided to put the salty title to the test in the theatrical context.” As the title suggests, this one is not so much focused on your grandma's tastes in theatre, but rather aims to speak to (and give voice to) young people, trying to find that special person in the 21st Century. Fresh Creative Talents VRT divides its creative ventures between presenting existing, well-known blockbuster content and commissioning and developing new work for South African stages. As part of VRT’s mandate to create a platform to develop new directors and young writers, a competent and fresh young creative team took no time to assemble.

Daniel Keith Geddes was commissioned to write the pop-inspired score (and additional lyrics) which is jam-packed with the upbeat sounds of Mika, gut-wrenching break-up songs á-la Adele, Doja Cat trap-hip-hop-vibes and pulsating EDM (Electric Dance Music) tunes artfully blended to suit a musical theatre narrative. Mr. Geddes is also directing this first developmental workshop production.

Mark Tatham wrote the (bouncy) book and (hilarious) lyrics. Mr. Tatham is no stranger to the stage (both on stage and behind the scenes) and has written various plays that have toured South Africa, including MAN UP and NICE TO MEET YOU, NOW LET'S TAKE OFF OUR PANTS. He has held theatre residencies in Iceland, Norway and Greece and has taught theatre throughout South Africa, Europe and Asia and is currently performing in The Lion King in Korea. He has been collaborating with the South African team via Zoom.

Insta-Star stylist Ashleigh Butcher from @secondhandnews.thrift was tasked with bringing her eye and unique flair to the wardrobe of HOW TO DATE. Upcycling previously loved garments is her talent and she has curated a diverse range of looks for the almost 20 different characters portrayed by only 4 actors The production is produced by VR Theatrical (Rock of Ages, Here’s to You – The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook, Avenue Q) who are renowned for getting behind new and developmental theatre projects.

Audience Responses

Excellent and current. Special mention to the superb acting of the cuddly actress....!

First visit to Drama Factory - venue is really comfortable (good spacing between rows ensures that heads don't get in the way of your view of the stage), good acoustics, staff friendly and enthusiastic, good selection of wine available. Enjoyed the show immensely - fast-paced, sharply witty, racy (not raunchy), excellent character diversity from the performers - left us wanting to come back for more!

What a disappointment?.. The show was for teenagers and young adults going on their first dates. Emotional love inexperience. The ad should have said not suitable for the 35years old and over instead of not suitable for the 16 and under who would have enjoyed it much more as they could relate to it. This show has now finalized my decision to avoid the Drama Factory shows. I went to 2 music shows before Covid and the acoustics were terrible plus the show was mostly heavy metal where you advertised music for that era. We need a lot more convincing to attend another.

Fabulous new work! Fab script, fab music, fab performances. Hope it runs again as I know folks who would like to see it. The structure will probably grow and change as the show develops - one or two of the items in the latter part of the show might need to shift - it's uncertain if some of them are intended as finales or as part of the flow. There should be a clear flow to one finale. The mirror upstage centre is not incorporated as part of stage business and it reflects into the eyes of some of the audience so it should go. The balance between singing and backing track was sometimes weighted in favour of the track so the lyrics were sometimes indistinct. But other than those small tweaks its truly brilliant and I hope it goes worldwide - it has every potential to do so - it is wayyy better than the 'vagina monologues' in many ways so with the right support it could do as well - Good luck to you all!! Pat (Theatre Director)

The mirror at the back blinded my eyes with the spotlight. I had operations so please use something different as impression. Souns was better at the end

Brilliant!

Entertaining and very current / relatable

Entertaining and fun. Some great vocals.

Gosh that baby 🤣🤣! Beautiful performance from all of them. Dating is such an awkward thing we humans share and with that awkwardness we're so naked and vulnerable. It's such a joy that we can share this experience through Theatre. So so happy Theatre is starting to breathe again.

Loved it! First time at Drama Factory- great vibe. Will be back for more!

Loved it! First time at Drama Factory- great vibe. Will be back for more!

LOVED IT..BRILLIANT

It was so great I would have liked it a little longer :)

Great show - highly entertaining and very clever!

Fun and excellent performance! Laughed our way through it