Interview: Bobbie Little on new musical comedy for radio BLUFF

A brand-new musical comedy entitled Bluff has been written exclusively for radio by Matt Cavendish and Ed Zanders. The full radio-play, complete with foley sound effects and a stellar cast, is designed to take the listener on a vivid journey through a larger-than-life world, accompanied by a live studio orchestra. To coincide with its release today (18 October), we spoke to actress Bobbie Little who plays Shirley Judge in the piece.

Tell us about Bluff.

Bluff is a quirky, comic story of a world where lying is the norm. It follows a town called Paradise and some of the relationships between people living there. It has a lot of heart and amongst all of the wackiness, there is truth and the harsh reality of dealing with your ego and trying to maintain relationships. I’ve made it sound a bit serious but it’s literally all the fun!

How was the recording process?

It was real laugh actually! We were in a little booth in Hammersmith and stood around the mics getting takes of the piece in sections. It's lovely to be able to read lines instead of having to memorise everything and that leaves room to try different things too. It was such a lovely supportive atmosphere and it felt like true team work, bringing the show to life together.

How did the creative process prior to recording work?

It was a speedy process. I was sent the script and songs and Ed recorded them for me to learn from too, which made it easy for me. I had a few hours going through the songs with Ed before we had a full meet and read through. It all came together pretty organically in the read through and we polished things musically and went through a few things direction wise with Ellie. We had a lot of freedom to play which was joyous!

Have you performed in a radio play before?

No, never, and I had no idea I ever would so I'm grateful I got the opportunity because it's unlike any work I’ve done before.

Tell us about your character, Shirley Judge.

Shirley is a good person, desperate to feel worthy I think. She’s a real climber and has the bravery to do what she feels needs to be done to get to the ‘top'. She is genuine and tries her best but definitely makes mistakes and can be selfish. But at the end of the day, she will always see the truth of the matter and admit where she has fallen short.

How does it feel to be part of something so fresh and new?

Really exciting. Especially because at the time of recording, it was like dusting off Covid cobwebs and doing something fun again! It’s so unique too and I’m proud to be part of it, alongside a cast and creative team that have my whole heart.

What was it like working with Matt (Cavendish) and Ed (Zanders) on this piece?

Wicked! They’re so playful and creative and comedy geniuses. I felt honoured to be honest. Really lovely humans too.

Do you think Bluff has a future beyond radio, if this was considered to be an option by the writers?

The whole time we were recording it and since hearing it back, I can visualise the show so well. I could definitely see it on stage.

How would you encourage people to download Bluff?

If you want an escape from reality, have a giggle and be transported to a playful, chaotic world , it’s for you. It’s also something a bit different from your podcast or audiobook, more of a theatrical experience. It’s a quirky piece with a lot of depth and suitable for all!!

We gave Bluff four stars so don’t miss out, Besties! To download, please click here.