Jessica Lim (Be More Chill at the Old Joint Stock)

Q) Hello Jess - thanks so much for taking the time to answer some questions. Before we begin, please could you tell us a little bit more about Be More Chill?

Okay, yes, so Be More Chill is like a coming of age story. It's your typical kind of high school, someone doesn't fit in, like the main character, Jeremy, doesn't quite fit in with everyone and him and his best friend jokingly talk about navigating high school life together. But Jeremy still wants more and he doesn't enjoy being the uncool person. So, after a conversation with one of his classmates, who has a Squip in his brain, he decides to get one and the rest of the musical is kind of about what happens when he gets a squip to help him become cool or, as they say, Be More Chill. Yeah, it's kind of like what happens when a supercomputer is trying to tell you what to do, which I think, I mean, nowadays is as relevant as ever because we've got AI. So, yeah, it's kind of like very relevant to nowadays society with AI and supercomputers actually telling us what to do with chat GPT and everything like that.

Q) What was it about this musical that sparked your interest and made you want to be involved?

Well, obviously I've just come off the back of Dear Evan Hansen and I think if you like Dear Evan Hansen, you'll probably like Be More Chill. They're quite a similar style, at least it's like the American high school part of it, which is quite similar. It's also a lot about mental health and anxiety and things like that, a lot of the themes are similar. When I heard that Be More Chill was coming to Birmingham, I'm from Wolverhampton, so I'm really close. So I was thinking that it would be really nice to be home for a bit. But also, it was nice for me vocally not have to subvert to a completely different genre so soon after Dear Evan Hansen.

But also I think, the songs are so catchy. It's not a very well-known musical. I know it's got a cult following, like it's got its loyal, loyal fans, but it doesn't have mass popularity like Dear Evan Hansen did or like Wicked has and Hamilton and things like that. But the music is really great. I think it's got some great songs and its really catchy. My friend who came to see the show actually didn't know anything about Be More Chill and was kind of singing and humming along to some of the songs after the show. So it just proves that the songs are super catchy. And also it's just so funny. It's a really, really funny musical. And I am a self-proclaimed nerd myself. I think it is a musical for the people who are a little bit different, who are a little bit nerdy, who are a bit quirky, like every character is a stereotype, but also like a lovable stereotype. I think like the main female character, Christine, is just so endearing. And even though she's very quirky and kind of a bit strange, she's very silly and over the top, but in the most endearing and beautiful way.

And I think it is for the people who maybe don't feel like they fit in, this musical is for those people who didn't fit in at school, or maybe even now if you feel like you don't fit in, in like in your workplace or whatever. And as someone who thinks of themselves as a nerd, like so much of the music is like video game style, and you've got two player game which is very much in video game style, and I was very drawn to like that.

Q) You mentioned Dear Evan Hansen, which explores similar themes of identity, social pressure and popularity. Why do you think these sort of shows are important to be on stage, especially for younger audiences?

I think that it's so important that people of a young age or at least the age of the people that are in the show, I think it's really important for them to see that they're not alone. I think that's the message of these shows, it is that, hey, you might feel like you're a little bit on the sidelines or you might feel really stressed or you might feel like everything is so big and that you're the only one feeling these feelings that you're feeling. But actually, a lot more people are feeling them. Like obviously, Evan thought that he was the only person to not have any friends at school. But then you've also got people like Jared, who say they have a lot of friends, but do they really have a lot of friends or is that a front? And then Alana, who has acquaintances but doesn't have friends. But obviously, all of these people are presenting very different. And like each person probably thinks, oh no, everyone else has got friends, but I don't. But it's one of those shows that shows that no, you're not the only person feeling that way.

And I think it's really important for people, and especially young people, to be like, oh ok, I'm not alone. We had so many amazing fans of Dear Evan Hansen and now Be More Chill, who I've met over the last week, who've kind of come together and met each other. The people who are coming to the show, who relate to that message are meeting other people who also are feeling that way and then creating a community because they've got other people that they're relating to and who are going through the same things that they are. Yeah, it's lovely.

Q) You play the character Jenna Rolan, do you relate to her character in any way?

I think, yes. I mean, apart from I don't really think that I'm the gossip that Jenna is. But I think, maybe like having to present one way to other people to fit in. Maybe when I was a bit younger. Even though they call Jenna one of the popular kids, and that is in the design that the designer of the show came up with. She's in the popular kid colours, which is like the cooler colours, the pinks and the blues, she's wearing all those colours, but she's not actually part of the group. And that is explored in the musical. I think everyone's probably felt that maybe they're part of a group, but not actually part of the group, in a certain way. And also, as much as I say that I'm not as big of a gossip as Jenna, but everyone loves a little gossip with their friends. So, I think that the excitement of finding something juicy out, yeah, it's very much like a parallel with me and Jenna.

Q) Jenna is often seen as the gossip queen with a comedic edge, which I think she uses to protect herself —how do you balance the comedy with the sincerity in your portrayal to give depth to her character?

You have to do everything super truthfully, like everything that she does. I think that Jenna has very silly little scenes, all of her scenes are very small, but very silly. Like the first line that I have is in the ladies shoe shop in the back room, where I'm like "you've run out of shoes?!" in a shoe shop. With comedy, I think a lot of the time you just have to play the truth of it. And then the line itself is funny, so you're not trying to make the line funny. And also, it's very much like playing off the other person, it's not a one person job making things comedic, it's very much a partnership with the other person in the scene. And then with the sincerity, I think it is just kind of doing your homework in terms of realising that there is a lot of vulnerability in the character and finding that within the bits that aren't said. I know that Ailsa and Maya, the girls who play Brooke and Chloe, we've come up with little bits where we're not forefront in the scene, but in the background, and they get me to take a picture of them. And it's very much like "oh, you want me to take a picture of you guys" "like, can I be in it? no? okay" and feeling that stuff.

And then obviously, in the second act, you can kind of get a bit more into how she really feels as she literally tells all to Jeremy. I think everyone's got a bit of vulnerability in themselves, even if they outwardly appear that they don't. And I think that it was drawing upon my own vulnerabilities.

Q) Be More Chill is a musical that has a cult following - have you had the chance to connect with audiences during this run and does their enthusiasm for the show impact on the performances?

I've met a lot of the fans after the show and seen online how much it means to people. I think it's very much just about being able to relate to the characters, and I think that the people that the fans relate to the most, obviously everyone loves Jeremy, who's the main character, you follow his journey. But everyone loves Michael. And I think it is because he's so relatable. Like, I think everyone's been at a party where maybe they don't feel like they belong and they maybe go and hide in the bathroom or hide in a safer space that's just a little bit quieter. I mean, Jack Carr, who plays Michael is a phenomenal singer and actor. And I think that his rendition of Michael in the Bathroom has maybe superseded other people's versions that they've seen. I mean, he's just incredible. And I think everyone has really been able to connect with his version of Michael. I know that a lot of fans who have come to see the show are fawning over Jack because Michael is such a relatable character. And yeah, I think that's the thing that I've taken away from the people who've come to see the show is that they really relate to the characters who are on the sidelines a little bit.

Q) The show is currently playing at the Old Joint Stock, an intimate pub theatre in the heart of Birmingham. How does it feel performing such a big and energetic show in a smaller venue? 

It is. I feel bad for you guys. Well, not bad. That is that's the wrong word. I feel like it's a really special experience to be able to look an audience member in the eye in such a big and energetic show. I enjoy being able to look you guys in the eye and feel like I'm including you in the story. I have a song in the second act called The Smartphone Hour and a lot of that is very much about telling the people on my phone and on social media rumours and things, and it's really nice in this venue to be able to drop the phone and be speaking to the audience. A lot of reviews have talked about how it's been so lovely to see and feel the energy. And I think that was a big part of the rehearsal process, getting to grips with a smaller space and working through that small space. And I mean, we only had nine days of rehearsal for this show, which is mental and it was very intense. But yeah, I mean, that's fringe, that's fringe theatre.

Q) How has the energy of a ten-person ensemble in such a compact space influenced your portrayal and interactions with fellow cast members?

With it being such a small rehearsal process, we turned up on day one knowing all of our lines, having learnt all of our ensemble harmonies which were sent in advance, and we all came having learnt them. And then we had an intense three day choreography. And I know that I can speak for all of my cast members, we were dead after those three days, like our minds were like, oh my God, we've just learnt every single number in this show choreography wise. And it was super ambitious with how big scale the numbers were. And then I think from then on, we kind of stepped back when we got into the space. So it was very much a collaborative process and workshopping. With direction, James Edge really gave us a lot of free reign to give our ideas and add our own kind of direction for our characters. That then also helped us collaborate as a cast to bring those relationships and those and those connections together.

I know that Tom Dickerson and Shannon Bourne spent a lot of time together building that connection between Jeremy and Christine together. And I know that Tom and Tommy Fouweather, who plays The Squip, they also spent a lot of time working out the dynamics between The Squip and Jeremy. As a cast, we really came together and worked it out together. Even for me, while Jenna is alone for a lot of the choreography, I did speak with Ailsa Erskine, Maya Jade Frank, Harry Chamberlain and John Og, kind of working out the dynamics between me and them, because they use me as much as I use them in that kind of relationship. So it was really interesting as a cast to find that relationship and find the blocking within that as well.

Some of the cast are making their debuts or are newly graduated - how has the process been working with some newbies to the scene?

I think it's really fun because I think up until now, I feel like I've been that person who's been a little bit fresher. I know that I'm four years out now, but I still feel like a grad sometimes. But it has been really nice to work with people who are a little bit fresher, and they bring a really lovely energy and excitement to the rehearsal process. Obviously we were all very excited, but your first job is always so, so, so exciting, and obviously nerve-wracking as well. I think that myself, Tom, Shannon and Tommy were really supportive of everyone, and I mean, they've held their own. They were incredible from day one. Ailsa, who plays Brooke, is also the dance captain and this is her second professional job after Panto. She's just been incredible as a dance captain, she has really helped us all. I mean, as I said, we only had three days of choreography and it was all crammed in and fried our brains a little bit at the beginning. But she really helped us to clean up all the numbers and also strip back the numbers where needed. Yeah, I think that not enough praise can be given to Ailsa for the job that she's done as a fresh grad and also first time dance captain. She's just been incredible. Amazing.

Q) With it being such an intimate space, there are obvious limitations against design and production. Can you give us a little insight into how the creative team have brought the show to life within this intimate venue?

Yes, so the production team have got, I think it's 12, TV screens on the back wall, which our video designer Liam Alexandru has designed, with absolute incredible designs. Every new scene has like Level One: Jeremy's bedroom or Level Two: Play Rehearsal. So it's really nice that we've used a lot of the TV screens and digital elements to bring the show to life because it is such a digital show. It's about a supercomputer, so it really works having those TV screens on the back to bring it to life. One of my favourite parts of the show is when The Squip is introducing the different people in school to sync Jeremy up with his fellow students. We all got photos taken of us as our characters and then there's a little character profile behind when when we're being spoken about, which is one of my favourite things. And a lot of the jokes that have been put in are very nerdy jokes, like when they're talking about the fire, there's a little Dungeons and Dragons reference in there, which for me, I found that very funny because I'm a big D&D nerd. So yeah, I think that the video elements that were so ambitious for them to come up with, I think really work really well in such an intimate space where you can't do massive set changes to to make it look like you're in a different scene. So they they spell it out. And then we have just simple blocks that we use as as chairs and different things. I think one of our biggest set pieces is that we do have a bath.

Q) We last had this production on stage in the UK at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2021 and since then technology has evolved massively. Is this portrayed in the show in any way?

Yes. Yeah, it has. Well, with The Squip, and I think this was such a really interesting design, the idea for the squip is that The Squip evolves from the beginning of the show. He is the Keanu Reeves that everyone knows the script to be. And then I don't want to give away too much for people who want to come to see the show, but like it evolves with popular figures in social media, and the media as well evolves. That is reflected in the costumes and also on the screens at the back. So it shows The Squip evolving just as how technology is evolving, and kind of how technology just learns more and more and takes information and intelligence from so many different sources and media sources, especially.

Q) Be More Chill is full to the brim with iconic lines and songs - do you have a standout moment from the show?

When I was listening and learning the songs, the song that I loved and thought was an absolute bop was The Squip Song. I just think is so iconic, it's such a good song. And John Og, who plays Rich, is just incredible. Like his voice is stunning and he plays the role so well.

I think if there's like, I know that Steven Rostance, who plays all of the older characters like the Dad, the teacher and the scary stockboy, he has a couple of lines that he thinks are like so silly, but like so funny. And like when when Brooke says, "I'm not a sexy dog, you can just kick." It's just such a funny line. So silly. It's just such little lines that, like I said that me and Steven really enjoy backstage when we're listening in

Q) Why do you think audiences should come along to see Be More Chill?

I think people should come and see Be More Chill because it is really, really fun. I think that everyone will come and have a great time. It's such a unique experience being in an intimate venue. And I think that the ambition that James Edge and the rest of the creative team have had for this show really shows, and it has been successfully implemented in the space. And the songs are catchy, you're going to have a great time. There are messages in the show and they're really, really important messages about being yourself. And I think that's a really important message to be able to take away from a show and not have think too much, and and just be able to enjoy the powerhouse vocals that every single person in this cast have. And yeah, I think that everyone should come and see it. It's wonderful.

Q) Just a fun question to finish off with. Who or what would your Squip look like or be like?

Oooh! I think, I don't know whether it's because of a specific album announcement very recently, but, I think she might look like Taylor Swift. I would do anything that she tells me.

Be More Chill plays at The Old Joint Stock in Birmingham until Sunday 31st August 2025.

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Photography by Perro Loco Productions