Will McDowell, Lil Nas X and Yeah Yeah Yeahs music video director, is set to make his Edinburgh Fringe debut, bringing his new satirical media comedy, Judas Exclusive, to the Capital next month.
Starring Beth Mullen (who you might recognise from Ricky Gervais’ After Life or the Paramount+ spy thriller The Agency) as Simona, Judas Exclusive is set in 33AD.
Days after the death of Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot determines to clear his name on the set of Simona Tonight, a once popular late-night talk show. Desperate for a ratings miracle, host Simona invites Judas Iscariot on for an exclusive interview mere days after the death of Jesus Christ to give his side of the story.
Produced by LA-based MOOJ Productions, Judas Exclusive is directed by Charlotte Rooney-Baker and co-stars Nicholas Alexander as Judas, with Will McDowell as Peter the Disciple.
Reading-born McDowell was inspired to write Judas Exclusive after the cultural and political fallout of Andrew Mountbatton Windsor’s 2019 Newsnight interview. The writer, producer, and director who got his creative breakthrough in LA producing and directing music videos and album covers for artists including Lil Nas X, Sabrina Carpenter, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Panic! At the Disco returns home to the UK arts scene determined to make new work against what he sees as a much more challenging backdrop.
He explains, “We have the worst of both worlds in the UK. We lack the public funds of our European counterparts, but we don’t have private financing for the arts like in the US. It’s a miracle any of us can still make it to Fringe.”
Judas Exclusive is also set to be published by Leith-based independent publisher Salamander Street. Lucy George, director of Salamander Street, says, “Judas Exclusive’s surreal premise is the perfect satire of our media and celebrity culture. When I read Will’s wickedly funny script it instantly leapt off the page with all the makings of a Fringe hit.”
McDowell adds, “When the news came from Salamander Street, it felt like a real indicator that I was on the right track for Fringe. Being published before Fringe is a huge blessing for us as it cements the show as a piece of theatre that has transfer potential, that can be enjoyed as a piece of literature on its own or staged by other theatre companies. Publishing gives plays like this a bigger life.”
Judas Exclusive runs at Studio, ZOO Southside from 7-30 August.
Full details and tickets HERE
