‘Fangirls’ Fever: Creator Yve Blake on the One Direction-Inspired Musical’s ‘Wild’ London Debut and Crafting the Show to Feel ‘Like a First Crush’
variety.comNaman Ramachandran Yve Blake’s Australian musical sensation “Fangirls” has found an enthusiastic new audience in London. The show follows 14-year-old Edna’s elaborate attempts to meet Harry, a member of the world’s biggest boy band, when he plays a show in her hometown.
Through comedy and music, it challenges preconceptions about teenage girls and the power of fandom. Blake, a playwright, screenwriter and songwriter, traces the genesis of “Fangirls” to 2015, when Zayn Malik’s departure from One Direction dominated headlines. “I noticed journalists using adjectives like ‘hysterical’ and ‘desperate’ to describe the fans, presumed to be teenage girls,” Blake recalls.
This observation sparked her desire to create a show exploring fan culture through a more empathetic lens. The result is a high-energy musical comedy that captures the intensity of adolescent fandom. “I wanted it to feel adrenaline-fueled, like a first crush,” Blake explains. “I wanted to push the form and see if I could make a musical that felt like a pop concert but was also really funny.” When bringing “Fangirls” to the U.K., Blake and her team decided to maintain the show’s Australian setting.
This choice presented unique challenges, particularly in casting actors who could convincingly portray Australian characters.
Read more on variety.com