Joshua Fowley has been working on Little Sausage, a new verbatim musical, since the backlash towards Greggs Vegan Sausage Roll. This may sound frivolous, but it is not. Neither is the result so far.  

Interviews with vegans, non-vegans and activists comprise the words and lyrics. It explores the relationship between veganism and masculinity, the lack of empathy towards and judgement faced by vegans and the impact this has on their relationships. 

The tunes are folky pop music, with catchy hooks. The lyrics “don’t you miss bacon?”  in the opening number stick in our head and make us realise how annoying that question is! All the songs are melodious and the harmonies beautiful. It uses the real words from the interviews to talk about toxic masculinity, plant-based dating, and yes; there is a number about Greggs Vegan Sausage Roll, which works well with its Jersey Boys type dance moves. And as we leave the studio, we are still singing “we’re eating the same food, when we’re eating together, the greater good is when we’re eating together”, a testament to Fowley’s melodies. 

A lot of Deborah Vogt’s dialogue is funny. In this workshop presentation, it’s like a good stand-up routine about the thoughtless things said to vegans and how people resort to stereotypes and dismiss veganism as a “fad”.  This will undoubtedly evolve in the fully fledged script but we hope the lines are retained. 

We also hope the three performers (who play multiple parts in this work-in-progress performance) make the leap to a full production. Joanna Clarke, Owen Clayton and Daniel Bravo are likeable, funny and can sing harmoniously. 

This piece is interesting and original. It makes us think and may shift opinions. The tunes are appealing and memorable and it is so clever to engage us with these real words by putting them to music.  

Although not fully formed, this has the makings of something that will resonate so we hope it progresses. 

Little Sausage might just be a sensation.

The workshop presentation also runs this evening (5 March) at The Other Palace at 5pm and 8pm, with tickets available here.