Interview: All-round creative Baden Burns on new adult comedy musical POTTY THE PLANT
After two riotous, critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe runs that left audiences howling, Potty the Plant is finally sprouting in London soil – and it’s blooming bonkers! We spoke to director Baden Burns, who also stars as Potty, as well as co-writing and composing the music, about the show’s exciting London debut and the process of writing a hilarious new musical.
Tell us a little bit about what Potty the Plant is about.
Potty the Plant is a gloriously unhinged musical comedy set in a twisted kids’ TV hospital, where things are falling apart and no one seems qualified to fix them, especially not the singing, tap-dancing houseplant at the centre of it all. Potty’s the star of the show. But as chaos unfolds, secrets unravel, children vanish, and everything spirals into glorious musical madness. It’s absurd, anarchic, and just the right amount of heartfelt.
Where did the idea for this musical come from?
Like all great ideas, it started with a puppet and a questionable sense of humour. It started as a second-year student film that Aeddan Sussex (Co-writer/Director) and I created. Aeddan came into my bedroom one morning and said he had a vague idea of doing a murder mystery, set in a hospital with a talking pot plant. Other students at the time were making gritty black-and-white films, and we wanted to do something ridiculous. Somehow, people liked it, and it went on to win numerous short film awards.
After two Edinburgh Fringe runs, how has the show developed?
It’s grown plenty since then (sorry.) The audience is our best gauge of what jokes work, so we would try something new every performance and hope it sticks. For our London run, we have added a few new songs and have updated the music and script. Now, it’s a very different show from our first run at the Fringe. I guess that's the beauty of theatre.
With the Edinburgh Fringe coming up, how would you recommend people choose what to see when there’s so much on offer?
I like weird shows. So, if someone dressed as a banana on roller skates screams at you on the Royal Mile, follow them. You’ll probably end up somewhere wonderful. But really, take chances. You never know what you’re going to get.
How excited are you to be bringing Potty the Plant to London for the first time?
Ridiculously excited. Wilton’s Music Hall is iconic, and Potty somehow feels both entirely unworthy and weirdly at home there. We thought we would be frogmarched out of the building during our first run at the Fringe. Never mind getting the opportunity to perform in London. So yeah, we’re pretty stoked.
What advice would you give to people interested in pursuing musical theatre writing as a career?
I think a lot of people get caught up in chasing trends or putting on work to appease the audience (I’ve been guilty of this myself). If you have an idea for a musical you’re passionate about and that you would enjoy watching yourself, even if it’s the most ridiculous idea, just do it. You may be surprised how many people will vibe with it.
Why should people come and see Potty the Plant in its debut London run?
All I’ll say is there aren’t many places in London where you can watch a singing house plant tap dance through a deranged hospital. Potty the Plant is the kind of show that defies logic and genre. It’s weird, wild, deeply unserious, and unlike anything else on stage right now. If you want a night out that’s loud, chaotic, oddly touching, and leaves you wondering, “What the f*ck was that?”, Potty is calling. And trust me, he’s not the kind of plant you want to ignore.
Potty the Plant plays at London’s Wilton’s Music Hall from 24-28 June, with further info here.
