Edinburgh Fringe 2024

The Techtonics : 44 Days of Liz Truss (A Cappella)

The Techtonics

Genre: Comedy, Musical Theatre

Venue: Gilded Balloon Patter House

Festival: Edinburgh Fringe

Low Down

Review

Liz Truss cemented her place in history by lasting just 44 days as the UK’s Prime Minister.  Less time in office than anyone else.  Ever.  44 days is less than the shelf life of the average supermarket lettuce, for heaven’s sake.   In that short space of time, she lost a monarch, a chancellor and tanked the UK economy to a degree no-one thought possible.  To the point that it still ain’t recovered two years on.

So, surely no-one would be daft enough to create a musical “celebrating” her 44 days running the world’s sixth largest economy (well, when she started, anyway)?  Step forward the award-winning a cappella group that is The Techtonics (TT to their friends), all of whom are STEM students at London’s Imperial College.

This fourteen strong, all male ensemble cover a broad range of voices, including countertenor, three types of tenor, baritone, bass and a vocal percussion specialist that delivers an audio experience of the highest quality, whether singing as  complete ensemble, in a multi-part subgroup or, just occasionally, as a soloist.

And, surprise, surprise, this choir is at its best when they’re attacking the many big numbers as a complete ensemble in this full-on, high octane sixty minute dissection of a premiership no-one is likely to forget in a hurry.  A mix of covers and familiar tunes for which witty and apposite new lyrics had been penned showcased their strengths, with pitch perfect harmonies prevailing, whilst leaving just enough space for small groups or individual voices to shine.

To the plot.  Well, there wasn’t one, was there.  Truss had no idea how to run a bath, never mind a country, although she was a strong advocate for British cheese, allowing TT to create a running that was deployed to great effect.  Frequently.  And they remind us that, whilst not many people have the ability to seize power in seven weeks, no-one had lost it in six until Truss turned up.

Now, to the players, and “our Liz” who was a giant of a character both literally and figuratively, with an imposing stage presence that commanded attention at all times.  Just like the real thing then.  Except this one could sing, possessing a superb tenor voice (first tenor, for any music buffs out there reading this) that was absolutely pitch perfect.  We had an interesting interpretation of the role King Charles III played during Truss’s short period in office too. Not sure the real thing knows what rap is though, never mind how it needs to be delivered.  And Kwamikazi Kwarteng was a picture of desperation, pleading for “one last time” as he took the rap for that Truss budget to end all budgets.

Pulling all this together was Ted, our splendid TT Newscaster, delivering news of the latest disaster with humour drier than the average desert, voice dripping with insincerity and sarcasm, around which we had all that lovely music, allied with a series of sketches, all aimed at moving things along whilst depicting events as they unfolded.

The music worked and was top notch, invariably playing to the vocal strengths of those delivering it.  The sketches were, as sketches often are, a bit of a mixed bag.  Most hit the proverbial nail on its head but the impact of a few was diminished due to dialogue getting lost and/or the punch line falling flat.  A bit of attention to this and perhaps a little audio rebalancing to allow the exquisite harmonies coming from the higher voices more space and this will be a show that’s a real “must see”.

But it still ticks pretty much all the boxes; tight, witty script; great new lyrics to familiar tunes; top class, pitch perfect singing; really smooth choreography that was nicely executed; range of amusing props; fast moving and high energy.  It’s a completely ridiculous but alarmingly accurate tale of utter and complete incompetence that had the packed audience rolling in the aisles and engaged from start to finish.  Unlike its eponymous subject.  Highly recommended.

Published August 18, 2024 by Tim Wilcock