'Worse places to live': David Baddiel on Chester
BBCAuthor and comedian David Baddiel is "thankful" the stars aligned when his producers told him where his new musical's opening night would be.
The comedian is not unfamiliar with the city of Chester, especially the theatre that will host the world premier of The Parent Agency, based on his children's book of the same name.
The comedian has graced the stage at The Storyhouse many times and says he is thrilled he will be able to showcase his newest creation on February 15 in the "most beautiful space".
Baddiel, who is temporarily living in Chester for the show's run, jokes there are "worse places to live" and says it is a place he actually wants to go out and explore.
"I am quite enjoying living in Chester, it's lovely," he said.
"There are worse places to spend your time and I have spent my time in some of those worst places.
"I really like the theatre and I really like the atmosphere around it."
Baddiel said the family theatre was "trying to do really great things".
He said the theatre was accessible and fun, "and the show is that too so it felt like a good place for it".
The 60-year-old is known for his past comedy partnerships with Frank Skinner which saw him star on the football anthem "Three Lions", co-written and performed with The Lightning Seeds.
His new musical, based on the first children's book he wrote, with music provided by Dan Gillespie Sells, centres around 11-year-old Barry Bennet who hates his name and wishes for better parents.
The show follows his journey as he makes his wish and finds himself whisked away to an alternate universe.
Baddiel said the idea for the book came from his son, Ezra, who at the age of eight asked why Harry Potter did not run away from The Dursleys and try and find some better parents.
"I thought that's an interesting idea, a very child idea that if you're a bit frustrated and annoyed with your parents you can find someone else," Baddiel said.
"It suits a musical, there are points in that story where you can feel the characters have got no choice but to burst into song."
He said as a children's writer he still "channels the 11-year-old" inside him.
"I think that's true of all adults.
"I can remember when I was 11, my mate had nicer food, a slightly nicer house, his parents bought him more stuff, and I wanted to live there."
Baddiel hopes the Parent Agency can one day reach global audiences as he joked "then London and Broadway, there I've said it, it started in Chester".
"You always hope the stuff you do is going to be a success," he added.
Additional reporting by Roger Johnson
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