Avert your eyes, it's silly Spamalot | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Tony Award-winning musical Spamalot is coming to Tauranga this month.

The Monty Python show, described as "lovingly ripped off from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail", will be brought to Baycourt by theatre company Zenith Productions.

Written by original Monty Python member Eric Idle, Spamalot traces the hilarious journey of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they encounter the Lady of the Lake, killer rabbits, taunting French people and the infamous Knights who say Ni!

The original show opened in 2005 and won the Tony award for Best Musical the same year.

The Sunday Times reviewed Spamalot as "raising silliness to an art form".

Zenith Productions has produced several musicals in the Bay, including the highly acclaimed Full Monty, and the producers are excited about the prospect of bringing Monty Python to Tauranga.

"It is important that we look for variety in what is offered to theatre-goers," Spamalot director Dave Wilson said.

"Python is great entertainment with wide appeal bridging many generations and offers a choice different to any other productions in the area this year."

Wilson said the show was "an entertaining musical comedy akin to a modern-day Gilbert and Sullivan style of production".

"The orchestrations alone are unbelievable, as Spamalot finds humour in many other production styles including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Westside Story and even Fiddler on the Roof."

The cast includes well-known Bay singers Sharon Cotter as the Lady of the Lake and Daniel Pepperell as King Arthur.

Local music identity Murray Mason is the musical director and has assembled what he describes as "the cream of local musicians" to tackle the intricate score.

Zenith Productions is a theatre company run by theatre veterans Lisa and Dave Wilson.

Spamalot opens at Baycourt on September 17 and runs for eight performances.