A London theatre company has announced that they will be putting on a show on the life and career of the Beastie Boys.
Titled Licensed to Ill, it’s an an unauthorised production based on the Beastie Boys story. It will play at The Camden People’s Theatre from November 23 to December 12. “Comedy hip-hop legends” Abandonman and the Rubberbandits have also been recruited for creative power as they detail the story of the three MC’s “as they go from teenage punks to international rapping legends.”
Here’s the synopsis:
“A brand new show about hip-hop’s most notorious pranksters. Join three young New Yorkers – Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock – as they go from teenage punks to international rapping legends: The Beastie Boys. Created with creative support from comedy hip-hop legends Abandonman and the Rubberbandits, and using a mix of live music and DJ-ing, Licensed to Ill travels through time from the hiphoppers of ’80s New York to the ’90s gangsters of LA – all the way to the total globalisation of hiphop. This loud, crazy show does to music theatre what hiphop did to tracksuits: make them cool.
The Beastie Boys’ story sheds light on many issues still raising hackles: racism towards & within rap; misogyny; the battle for hiphop’s soul, between those using it for protest, & for profit. We follow the gang from teenage punks, via their discovery by legendary producer Rick Rubin, to their induction into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame.”
The musical is presented by Simon Maeder and Adam El Hagar, who were also involved in the British drama series Peaky Blinders and American drama series Tyrant. Maeder stated that “the Beastie Boys are fully appraised of [their] plans for the show”.
Read more about the production and book your tickets here.