In honour of Stephen Sondheim’s 95th birthday anniversary, the Downing Dramatic Society (DDS) is assembling some of the renowned lyricist and composer’s greatest hits. Named after one of his most iconic numbers, Send in the Clowns stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Sondheim’s influence on contemporary musical theatre.

From the very beginning of my conversation with the show’s director, Ivan Alexei Ampiah, it is clear that this production is an ambitious undertaking, one that is a testament to the collaborative effort of a talented band, cast, and production team. For Ivan, this kind of musical endeavour has long been an aspiration of the DDS. He recalls conversations from his first year about how to put on a feat like this. Now, almost halfway through his third year, it is encouraging to see his dedication and enthusiasm as they bring this vision to fruition.

The show takes inspiration from the layout of Sondheim’s 80th birthday concert, which was performed in New York City across two nights in March 2010. Opening with the number ‘The Ladies Who Lunch,’ the show will first pay homage to Sondheim’s ‘leading ladies’, the heroines central to his musical theatre canon; then into ‘leading Kens’ – a playful inversion that gestures towards contemporary pop culture. After this, the production will move through an enticing catalogue of ensemble numbers, trios, and reimagined favourites. Of course, when we think of Sondheim, the classics such as ‘No One is Alone’ (Into the Woods) and ‘Getting Married Today’ (Company) come immediately to mind. Yet, his corpus of work is seemingly endless. Ivan refers back to the moment he initially sat down with the DDS President and talked through the music programme: “We were probably sat down for two and a half hours.” When I ask if there are any typically underrated gems to look forward to, Ivan refers to one of his favourites, ‘Evening Primrose: I Remember’, which he describes as evocative of an ‘idea of wanting to have something that’s so out of your reach’.

“The idea is that if you strip everything down to the material and not worry about set and lighting, it forces you to consider the actual words”

Sondheim’s enduring influence is unmistakeable, his memory reverberating across the world and across time. The whimsical title Send in the Clowns captures the “humorous quality” of a production that quite literally brings in entertainers to connect with theatre-lovers and admirers of Sondheim’s works. Ivan hopes for the production to let Sondheim’s lyrics speak for themselves, likening the quote “God is in the details” from Finishing the Hat to the skill with which Sondheim imbues joy and emotion into every word. To truly honour this, Ivan reveals the creative decision to keep staging as minimal as possible; duets are blocked with only a table and two chairs, staging which varies only by its varying configurations. “The idea is that if you strip everything down to the material and not worry about set and lighting, it forces you to consider the actual words, the sources of inspiration,” says Ivan. Lyricism is the centrepiece of this spectacle, everything revolving around the richness of Sondheim’s words.

“Throughout, there is this push and pull between isolation and collectivism,” Ivan notes, a theme which he adds wasn’t intentional but has emerged throughout the process. The dichotomy between what it feels to be alone and what it feels to be in fellowship will be a thematic crux. Ivan highlights the “English sensibilities” of Sondheim’s pieces, admiring “his wit, his humour, and his sarcasm” as characteristics which carry a “transatlantic reverence” because they are able to speak to a multitude of audiences. Alongside honouring this legacy, Ivan teases a few decisions that will invert expectations: “I would like an audience to come and see the show anticipating or at least being open to having their minds changed.” He talks about changing “who gets to sing these songs,” turning things “on their head slightly” to encourage discussion and move beyond the realm of expectation.

“I would like an audience to come and see the show anticipating or at least being open to having their minds changed”

When I ask what he has cherished most about this experience, Ivan’s answer is resolutely the people he has worked with: “Finding that sort of small enclave of people in Cambridge who really care about this […] has been really interesting and refreshing.” This collaborative atmosphere seems central to the show’s charm, aiming to create a space that fosters discussion not only among the cast and crew but also among members of the audience. For Ivan, the beauty of theatre lies in its different interpretations, so he ends with the hope that those watching will too engage in this discussion.

Overall, Send in the Clowns promises to be an enchanting night, both honouring a cadence of nostalgia and simultaneously looking to inspire new voices and audiences. As the interview comes to a close, I reach to secure my ticket, excited to be drawn into this whimsically creative world.

Send in the Clowns is running on the 7th and 8th of February (19:30) at The Howard Theatre, Downing College.