Vile Bodies
In development
BOOK Alexander Andrews
MUSIC AND LYRICS Andy Freeborn
PRODUCER Harry Flitcroft
Masked parties, Victorian parties
Greek parties, Wild West parties
Russian parties, Circus parties
Parties where one had to dress as somebody else
Almost naked parties in St. John’s Wood
Parties in flats and houses and shops and hotels and nightclubs, in windmills and swimming baths
All that succession and repetition of mass humanity
All those vile bodies— Evelyn Waugh, Vile Bodies
Set against the vibrant and jazz-infused backdrop of 1930s London, Vile Bodies is a whirlwind of extravagant partygoers fleeing monotony and the onset of WWII. A curious writer and a circle of hedonistic socialites revel in the exhilarating highs and confront the tumultuous lows of their indulgent lives. A gripping tale of excess, where the consequences of their actions weave a mesmerising tapestry of intrigue and desire, fuelled by the intoxicating rhythm of fun and folly.
Director’s Note
Vile Bodies is a satirical novel written by British author Evelyn Waugh, published in 1930. Set against the backdrop of high society London, the book offers a scathing critique of the hedonistic lifestyle and excesses of the Bright Young Things, a group of of young, wealthy and fashionable partygoers known for their extravagant lifestyles, rebellious attitudes and active participation in the social and cultural scene of the time. In our adaptation, we have condensed the events, characters and parties into one extravagant evening—the party to end all parties.
The story revolves around Adam, a young writer and outsider, who attends the party of a group of Bright Young Things in search of his fiancé, Nina. Upon arrival, he encounters Agatha, a troublemaking socialite, and her partner in crime, Miles, along with several other characters of the British elite. This eclectic group includes an heiress, a racecar driver, a silent film star, a gossip columnist, and even the prime minister's daughter. As the party unfolds with dancing, drinking, laughter, games, gossip, and mischievous antics, the distant sound of war gradually creeps up on them, as outside their safe walls London is being bombed.
In the midst of the chaos, Adam finds himself delving deeper into the party, just like Alice in Wonderland, where everything seems surreal and unpredictable. As the morning light threatens to bring the party to an end, Nina finally appears, dropping a bombshell of her own.
