The Monty Python musical “lovingly ripped off” from the acclaimed 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail will hit the stage at Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts for an opening show on Saturday afternoon.

Presented by Ballarat amateur theatre company BLOC Music Theatre, Spamalot is all singing, all dancing, and all silliness, rather like an adult pantomine. 

BLOC Music Theatre Vice-Chair Carly Macdonald is not afraid to admit Spamalot is a sidestep from what traditional music theatre audiences know and love. In fact, she is excited to appeal to a wide range of audiences. 

“The people who see BLOC shows every year will love this show. It has all the normal appeal of a BLOC show. The costume, theatre, set, and all the production elements are very high,” she said. 

“Appealing to Monty Python fans is capturing another audience.”

The plot of Spamalot closely follows that of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but is jam packed with silly songs to match the action.

“Anyone that knows Monty Python will know what is coming before it happens because it is fairly strict to the storyline,” Ms Macdonald said. 

“There are lots of songs that were written specifically for the musical and of course Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, which everyone knows. We are expecting people might even start singing or whistling along with that one.”

The show is the first time well known Ballarat director Andrew Seary has taken on the role of director with BLOC Music Theatre. He has been working with 26 cast and over 100 crew who have been rehearsing three times a week since November. 

The BLOC Music Theatre show coincides with the release of almost all of Monty Python’s back catalogue on Netflix, from April 15. 

Director Andrew Seeary said the show encouraged audiences to laugh at perceptions, stereotypes and cliches.

“In the classic Python tradition if you look closely enough and judge harshly enough there is something to offend everyone in this show,” he said.  

“Most importantly....we laugh at us. It is a fun, irreverent, and bizarre piece of theatre. In other words, it’s just what we need right now. Life has drama enough.”

Show dates: Saturday 14th April 2pm and 8pm, Sunday 15th 2pm, Wednesday 18th 8pm, Thursday 19th 8pm, Friday 20^th 8pm Saturday 21st 2pm and 8pm and Sunday 22nd at 2pm. 

Ticket Prices: Adult $45.00, concession $39.00, child $34.00, family $135.

Tickets are on sale at the BLOC website www.blocmusictheatre.com or at the venue from one hour before the show.