If you are in London between the 7th-12th October then I have a treat for you! Släpstick: Schërzo is set to make their London debut at Wilton’s Music Hall. We first spoke to the group in 2023 before they had their world premiere at Edinburgh Fringe where they were welcomed with some amazing reviews from both the public and the press. I caught up with them ahead of their London debut to find out what has been happening since we last spoke!

Hello Släpstick! lovely to talk you again – tell us a little but about yourself?

Hello! We’re Släpstick- a group of five musicians from the Netherlands, with a healthy love for absurd physical humour and an obsession with the old-timey comedians of the 1920’s and 30’s. We’re all conservatoire trained on our respective instruments, but are constantly looking for (hilarious, and sometimes painful) ways to bust-up the status quo when it comes to classical repertoire. 

What have you been up to since we last spoke in 2023?

To be honest we’ve had a pretty whirlwind go of it! We had a brilliant run at the Edinburgh Fringe with Pleasance, which led to some pretty wild adventures: We’re just off a week’s run at Germany’s biggest classical music festival, which was directly preceded by a series of shows at the Zwarte Cross- europe’s biggest motocross and rock music festival, which in turn was directly preceded by a lengthy engagement in South Korea! Luckily, we’ve all had a few weeks to catch our breath this summer before heading to Wilton’s Music Hall this October. 

What can you tell us about your show in London this October? 

The Schërzo you’ll see in London is a bigger-and-better version of the show that we premiered in Edinburgh last summer. It’s a slapstick take on a hoity-toity classical concert, only in London there will be more music, more instruments, more buffoonery, more fun. Our roots are firmly planted in the music-hall tradition, so even though this show is thematically more classical-based, it couldn’t be a better fit for Wilton’s Music Hall. 

How did the show come about?

We’re all classically trained on our instruments, but none of us ever really fit the mold of the standard orchestral musician or soloist. We wanted to make a show that encapsulated this feeling, by combining our love for silliness and clownery with serious classical repertoire. Hence “Tchaikovsky meets Chaplin” was born. Also, our previous shows involved huge sets, intricate technical build-ups and multiple costume changes. We very much wanted to make a show where our instruments and personalities were at the forefront.

I saw your show at Edinburgh Fringe and I loved the creativity of it. There are so many instruments involved what is your favourite one to play?

Ooh, that’s a tough one! My favourite instrument to play in this particular show would be a short melody I play on the world’s smallest (but miraculously heaviest) concertina. My favourite instrument of all time sadly doesn’t appear in Schërzo at all- the Zanzithophone(!), a small plastic electronic wind instrument from the 80’s that was meant to be a child’s toy, but can be surprisingly beautiful in the right hands! You’ll have to come see one of our other shows to hear it!

Another thing I loved was some of the complex playing involved – how long do some of the skits take to rehearse?

It’s hard to say for any one specific skit, since we usually are rehearsing multiple scenes simultaneously. I know it took months-on-end for Rogier and Willem to perfect the dance sequence in the mirror scene (while playing melodica). Sanne spent countless hours getting his ‘Bumblebee’ up to World Record speed, and I had to learn the double-bass for the tap-scene. All-in-all it takes about one and a half years writing and rehearsing and try-outing to put a show like this together. 

What is the most challenging thing about doing the show?

I guess I’d say maintaining focus throughout the day. Show days are a long haul- we have a lot of instruments that need to be unpacked, assembled, warmed up and tuned. Then everyone has a drawn our costume and make-up process, from waxing moustaches to fluffing eyebrows, then a quick bite before sound-checking 28 wireless microphones, and then we always start the show long before the curtain opens- we’re out there and “in character” as the audience rolls in, causing mischief passing trombones around, and generally setting the mood before the actual show even starts. It’s a long day, and with some scenes requiring an inordinate amount of concentration, can be quite a challenge.  

What have been some of the best highlights since doing the show?

Touring in Korea was an absolute blast! We were treated like royalty, and even held lengthy ‘high-touch-events” after the shows, where audience members could sign up to wait in line and give us a hug, high five, and take a selfie (in a Släpstick themed Photo Booth the venue built for us!)!

What is the best reaction you have had from an audience member?

We’ve had so many lovely reactions to this show, it’s hard to choose! Last year a fan hand-embroidered a giant portrait of the five of us, which now hangs prominently in our rehearsal space. In Korea, the director of the festival (who hadn’t seen the show live yet) was so blown away, he treated the whole team to an incredible 10-course traditional dinner, which eventually turned into a slightly debauched night in the streets of Daegu and ended in a karaoke bar. 

If people want to follow you on social media where can they find you?

We’re on all the usual platforms, but most active on Instagram. Come check us out: @slapstick_nl

Finally, in three words why should people come to your show?

Beethoven raucously yodelling! 

Or

Chaplin meets Tchaikovsky!

Or 

Worlds Smallest Concertina!

Or 

Worlds Wonkiest Organ!