2014 Edinburgh Fringe

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The Church of Zirconium is a new satirical comedy by Will Farrell and Milo Gough, writers of the 2013 Fringe hit Morag and Keats which featured the voice of Mighty Boosh star Rich Fulcher, who once again lends his voice for The Church of Zirconium. The show is co-produced by 1945 Productions who have had multiple hits at the Edinburgh Fringe, including a sell out run of Take It Interns in 2013 which was nominated for best new musical at the MTN Awards and gained 5 stars from WhatsOnStage among others.

The Church of Zirconium satirises the phenomenon of the modern religion, where members find themselves having to purchase extortionately priced, church endorsed products to improve their spiritual well being. Following a messy break up, Pat Antler looks for something to give his life meaning and discovers the Church of Zirconium, unaware he has joined what can only be described as Britain's worst cult.

In this cult - sorry... religion, where a Free Personality Test costs 6.50, Pat Antler is (accidentally) elevated to the role of Messiah, much to annoyance of the cult's leader Martha Shedd and Pat's ex-fiancé Sally Cafeteria, who joins the group with rather fishy knowledge of the Zirconium scriptures. The most vocal of the group is Geoffrey Produce, a fierce Welshman whose unwavering faith in his own judgement masks his inner fears. Meanwhile his somewhat pathetic best friend Kenneth Hospice remains unfailingly devoted to the church's scriptures, and pines for the affection of the unseen 'Great Leader' (the church's answer to L. Ron Hubbard) voiced by Rich Fulcher.

As Sally attempts to prove to Pat that he has joined a coercive cult rather than a religion, she begins to realise that perhaps there is more to this group than their beliefs and that the Church of Zirconium is their refuge from the less pleasant reality of their everyday lives. This warm, ridiculous play is packed with satirical humour, surreal comedy, and genuine friendships.