Jordan Li-Smith and Ayesha Patel (Rope Drop: The Unofficial Disney Parks Comedy)

Disney Parks have the ability to transport us back to childhood, creating a world of nostalgia, friendship and a little sprinkle of magic. From Jordan Li-Smith and Ayesha Patel, their love of the Parks became inspiration for Rope Drop: The Unofficial Disney Parks Comedy - a buddy comedy born from their own friendship and shared obsession with Disney. Following a previous performance at the Crazy Coqs, the show has now expanded into a full-length theatre experience at The Other Palace, combining live music, comedy, special guest performances and plenty of Disney nostalgia.

We took the opportunity to chat with Jordan and Ayesha to tell us more.

Q) How would you describe the show and where did the initial idea for Rope Drop: The Unofficial Disney Parks Comedy first come from? Was there a particular Disney Parks experience or memory that sparked an idea for the show?

AYESHA: Rope Drop is an autobiographical buddy comedy about two best friends trying to have the perfect day in a Disney Park.

JORDAN: Which sounds very straightforward until you remember that no Disney day is ever straightforward.

AYESHA: The idea grew out of our friendship. We became friends through working in theatre and very quickly realised we were both complete Disney Parks fanatics.

JORDAN: She sent me a very niche Disney Parks meme, and I remember thinking, “Oh, she’s one of my people.”

AYESHA: Then in 2024, we impulsively booked a trip to Disneyland Paris together.

JORDAN: And that trip ended up becoming a huge part of the DNA of the show. A year later, Ayesha asked if I’d help her create something around the music of the Disney Parks, but the more we talked, the more we realised we weren’t really making a show about Disney. We were making a show about why two grown adults keep going back, and what that says about friendship, nostalgia, identity and holding onto your inner child.

Q) Do you have very different Disney personalities? For example, is one of you the planner who has the whole day mapped out while the other just wants to wander around the park?

JORDAN: Unfortunately for everyone around us, we’re both planners.

AYESHA: Very much so.

JORDAN: We know the parks really well, so we’re not usually wandering around thinking, “What shall we do now?” There is a plan.

AYESHA: But we also both have our own little rituals and habits.

JORDAN: I’m definitely a “we are ticking everything off” person. If there are ten attractions I want to do, we are doing ten attractions.

AYESHA: And the nice thing is that we know each other’s habits now, so there’s a lot of accommodating each other’s very specific Disney behaviour.

JORDAN: Which absolutely made its way into the show. There are lots of little moments where one person has a ritual that the other person knows simply has to happen.

Q) How did you first come to work together, and what made you realise that you had the right friendship and comedic chemistry to create this show?

JORDAN: We first met through Sitz Musicals, the programme run by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra.

AYESHA: And then we worked together again on a workshop of Jordan’s musical The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair.

JORDAN: We became friends really quickly. And then came the Disney meme.

AYESHA: The true foundation of any lasting friendship.

JORDAN: Exactly. I think our sense of humour was apparent pretty early on, because a lot of what makes us laugh is just how seriously we can both take something incredibly niche.

AYESHA: And that’s really the tone of Rope Drop. We’re laughing at ourselves constantly, but the affection underneath it is completely genuine.

Q) What is it like writing and performing alongside your close friend? Does being so familiar with each other make the creative process easier? What has been the biggest challenge in creating this show together?

AYESHA: The familiarity definitely helps, because so much of the show comes from real conversations and memories.

JORDAN: The original writing process was actually really joyful. We spent days talking about childhood memories, trips we’d taken, things we loved, things we found ridiculous, all these tiny details that probably sounded completely unhinged to anyone else.

AYESHA: And then Jordan took all of those conversations and somehow turned them into the first draft in a couple of days.

JORDAN: Since then, we’ve shaped it together constantly. Because we’re playing versions of ourselves, we’re always asking: does this actually sound like something Ayesha would say? Does this feel like me? Would we really behave like this?

AYESHA: I think the challenge is turning all those personal memories and private jokes into something that has a proper theatrical structure and still makes sense to someone who doesn’t know us.

JORDAN: Exactly. Making it personal without making it insular.

Q) How have you approached making the show accessible to both the hardcore Disney fan as well as someone who simply loves a good comedy?

JORDAN: That’s been incredibly important to us from the beginning. If you’re a hardcore Parks fan, there are lots of tiny references, in-jokes and observations that you’ll recognise immediately.

AYESHA: But you absolutely do not need to know anything about Disney Parks to enjoy the show.

JORDAN: The comedy is very observational and very self-deprecating. We are absolutely sending up the Disney Adult culture from inside the house.

AYESHA: At its heart, it’s about friendship, nostalgia, growing up and giving yourself permission to love the things that make you happy.

JORDAN: It just happens to be set in a Disney Park. Whether you’re a theme park fan, a Disney fan or simply a comedy fan, there should be a way into it.

Q) Is there a Disney attraction, character or experience that you absolutely had to include in the show?

AYESHA: I think more than one specific attraction, it was important that the show actually felt

like a full day in a Disney Park.

JORDAN: The structure is the experience. We start at rope drop, we go through the rides and food and chaos of the day, and eventually we end with the fireworks.

AYESHA: But the parade was definitely something we wanted to expand in this version.

JORDAN: At Crazy Coqs, the parade moment didn’t even have its own song. This time around, we knew it deserved to feel like a proper event.

AYESHA: Because anyone who has ever travelled with someone obsessed with a Disney parade knows that everything else in the day suddenly has to revolve around it.

JORDAN: Plans may change. The parade does not.

Q) You previously performed Rope Drop at The Crazy Coqs earlier this year. What did you learn from that performance that you were able to bring into this newly expanded version?

JORDAN: Massively more than we expected. Crazy Coqs was really our first chance to find out whether the concept worked in front of an actual audience.

AYESHA: And thankfully, they laughed!

JORDAN: Which was reassuring. But we also learned that people really connected with the more heartfelt material, which gave us confidence to dig further into that side of the show.

AYESHA: This version is much fuller theatrically. There’s more story, more audience interaction, more material, projections and a much stronger journey through the day.

JORDAN: At Crazy Coqs, I’d describe it as a theatrical cabaret. At The Other Palace, it’s become much more of a full-length buddy comedy.

AYESHA: And instead of telling the audience about our Disney day, we’re bringing them along for it.

Q) You describe the show as a “love letter” to the Disney Parks, friendship and the part of yourselves that still believes in magic. What does Disney Parks fandom mean to both of you personally?

JORDAN: I think nostalgia is a huge part of it for me. Nostalgia is almost like a key that unlocks your younger self. That version of you never really disappears, but as you get older it gets harder to access them.

AYESHA: And for us, Disney Parks are one of the quickest ways to reconnect with that part of

ourselves.

JORDAN: There’s something very freeing about being somewhere where everyone has collectively agreed that joy and silliness are allowed.

AYESHA: You can be completely unapologetic about what you love. You make memories, you have traditions, and you tap into this sense of wonder that can be much harder to find in normal life.

JORDAN: And because our friendship grew out of that shared love, it’s impossible for us to separate the friendship from the fandom. They feed each other.

Q) Audiences are encouraged to arrive in their Disney ears and DisneyBound outfits. Have you seen some particularly impressive Disney-inspired outfits from audiences so far?

AYESHA: We definitely had plenty of ears at Crazy Coqs!

JORDAN: Which we fully encourage. We want it to feel like people are joining us for the day

rather than coming to sit politely in a theatre.

AYESHA: I’m very excited to see what people turn up in at The Other Palace.

JORDAN: And if anyone comes in a genuinely committed DisneyBound, they will absolutely

have our respect.

Q) The show combines comedy with live music. What does having a live band bring to Rope Drop?

JORDAN: Everything. The Parks are so musical. Music is part of how Disney creates atmosphere, memory and emotion, so it would feel strange to make this show without that live musical energy.

AYESHA: The band also allows the show to change gear really quickly. One minute we’re doing something completely ridiculous, and the next there can be a genuine emotional moment.

JORDAN: And there’s something about live musicians responding to what’s happening in the room that gives the whole show a spontaneity that you just wouldn’t get from tracks.

Q) Jordan, you're also credited as the arranger and orchestrator. How have you approached translating that Disney magic into the musical side of the show?

JORDAN: The main thing for me was never simply copying what already exists. I wanted the arrangements to feel rooted in the musical language of the Parks, while also serving the comedy and the theatrical storytelling of our version. There are moments where the audience should immediately recognise a musical world, and other moments where we deliberately twist something into a completely different style because that’s where the joke is.

I’m also a massive Disney Parks music nerd, so arranging the show has basically given me permission to spend an unreasonable amount of time thinking about musical details that most normal people would never notice.

AYESHA: And unfortunately, I encourage him.

Q) Each performance features different special guests. What was the thinking behind bringing guest performers into the show? Does this keep things exciting — and perhaps slightly unpredictable — for you as performers too?

AYESHA: Definitely. Every performance has its own personality because all six guests bring something different.

JORDAN: They all have some connection to Disney too. Whether they’ve performed in Disney stage productions, worked in the Parks, or are simply genuine fans themselves.

AYESHA: We’ve built particular moments into the show where they come in and help us tell the story, but those moments are tailored around who they are and what they bring.

JORDAN: So the narrative stays the same, but the route through certain parts changes. Different songs, different stories, different moments.

AYESHA: And yes, it absolutely keeps us on our toes.

JORDAN: One word: preparation.

Q) Is there a particular sketch or moment in Rope Drop that you both find impossible to get through without laughing?

AYESHA: There are a few sections where there’s enough freedom to play that you never quite know what the other person is going to say.

JORDAN: The Hotel Santa Fe section towards the end of Act One is particularly dangerous because it’s already quite ridiculous before either of us starts improvising.

AYESHA: Once one of us goes, the other one is usually not far behind.

Q) Behind all the comedy and Disney references, the show is ultimately a celebration of friendship and community. Why was that an important part of the story for you?

JORDAN: Because for us, friendship and Disney fandom were never really two separate ideas.

AYESHA: Our friendship grew because of this shared thing that we loved, and then that opened up this whole community of other people who loved it too.

JORDAN: I also think platonic love doesn’t always get the same theatrical attention that romantic love does, and yet friendships can be some of the most defining relationships in our lives.

AYESHA: So while there’s lots of silliness in the show, underneath it is really an ode to friendship.

JORDAN: Two people choosing to keep showing up for each other, even when one of them has planned a completely insane theme park itinerary.

Q) Disney Parks are often described as places where adults can reconnect with their inner child. Why do you think that idea resonates with so many people?

JORDAN: I think it’s because adulthood comes with a lot of pressure to become sensible.

AYESHA: And to stop openly loving things in the way you did when you were younger.

JORDAN: But that younger version of you is still there. Places like Disney give people permission to reconnect with them.

AYESHA: You can be excited, wear ridiculous ears, cry at fireworks, eat something shaped like Mickey Mouse and nobody thinks twice about it.

JORDAN: And the show completely celebrates this community.

Q) What can audiences expect and why should audiences come along?

AYESHA: A very silly day at a Disney Park without having to get on a plane.

JORDAN: Live music, comedy, special guests, audience interaction, ridiculous characters, heartfelt moments and probably considerably more information about Disney Parks than you

expected to leave the theatre knowing.

AYESHA: But you don’t have to be a Disney fan.

JORDAN: That’s the important bit. If you’ve ever had a friendship that means the world to you, or a passion or obsession that other people don’t quite understand, there’s something in the show for you.

AYESHA: And hopefully you leave feeling like you’ve spent a day in the Parks with us.

JORDAN: Without the queues.

Q) A fun question to finish off - what makes the perfect Disney day for each of you?

JORDAN: Getting there for rope drop, obviously.

AYESHA: Obviously.

JORDAN: Then doing every attraction I’ve decided I need to do.

AYESHA: Eating all the food we’ve decided we need to eat.

JORDAN: Very important.

AYESHA: Having all the little traditions and rituals along the way, getting the parade in...

JORDAN: ...and then, crucially, going back to the hotel for a rest.

AYESHA: Because we’re not twenty anymore.

JORDAN: Then come back refreshed for the evening, do a few more rides, and finish with the fireworks.

AYESHA: So essentially: rope drop to fireworks.

JORDAN: With a nap.

AYESHA: The dream.

Rope Drop: The Unofficial Disney Parks Comedy plays at The Other Palace on the 05th and 06th September - tickets and more information can be found here.

Visuals Credit: Tyler Davis