THREE SHOWS DIRECT FROM THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
November 9th - 27th 2010
LORCA IS DEAD
ATRIUM
QUASIMODO
9 - 27 nov
Lorca is Dead
or a brief history of surrealism
by Dominic J Allen
“The simplest surrealist act consists of dashing down into the street, pistol in hand, and firing blindlyâ€
- Andre Breton, Second Manifesto of Surrealism
It’s the year 1920 or something; the dust has started to settle on a Europe splintered by war. Out of the ashes emerges one of the most notorious art movements of the 20th century, Surrealism.
Dominic J Allen’s interactive play beckons you in to the world of the Surrealists as the likes of Artaud, Bunuel, Magritte and Salvador Dali welcome you as their colleagues. Whatever role you cast yourself in, throw caution to the wind and join them in their attempt to weave sense through a world that makes none.
Soon the actual evening’s purpose of the Bureau of Surrealist research comes to light, a lamenting pageant in memory of Spanish poet, Federico Garcia Lorca. Play your part in the retelling of his life alongside those that knew him best as the construct of time ticks off the stepping stones leading to the poet, Europe and indeed the Surrealists being changed forever. At times hilarious, at others heartbreaking this is a play that twists and transforms for each audience. The only certainty being that when the clock of history sounds its end, Lorca is dead.
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Directed by Dominic J Allen
Produced by Jethro Compton
Lighting Design by Jethro Compton
Music by Alexander Wright
Aragon: Patrck Fysh - Artaud: Alexander Wright - Breton: Marcus Emerton - Bunuel: Joe Hufton
Dali: James Wilkes - Eluard: Dominic J Allen - Gala: Lucy Farrett - Magritte: Serena Manteghi
Atrium
by James Wilkes
“Killing a kid would be an easy target… Only put that in if we’re lacking in emotional clinchersâ€
An ageing artist invites you to join a private audience in his study as he prepares to publish his memoirs with the assistance of a frustrated ghost writer. At times a personal lounge cabaret,
at others a zombie attack and at others a spoiled New Year’s Eve party.
Nothing ever clearly seems real in a play in which nothing happens, perhaps at all.
James Wilkes’ (The Tartuffe) first original play toys with the lines between fact and fiction
in a meta-theatrical play within a play within a comedy within a tragedy within a book
within someone’s imagination.
Absurd comedy reigns supreme in this dream like journey through one man’s subconscious as his own self obsession tears apart the life around him. You are invited to be part of it, to be complicit in his surreal flights of fancy. Bring an act to turn out in his cabaret, perform a striptease for his delight or smash a raw egg in his assistant’s shoe for his personal amusement.
A hilarious dip into a profoundly lonely mind.
Directed and Produced by Jethro Compton
Malcolm: Marcus Emerton - Paul: Alexander Wright - Pennie: James Wilkes - Butter: Lucy Farrett
Quasimodo
by Jethro Compton after Victor Hugo
“Never have I seen my ugliness as I do now, when I compare myself to youâ€
Venture deep into the dark heart of the Parisian underworld to witness the blind man open his eyes to gaze upon his wealth, the lame man throw down his cane to dance in celebration of his riches and the leper peel back his bandages to unveil the splendour of his affluence. You too are encouraged to take part in the festivities of the feast of fools though no matter how hard you gurn or grimace,
it is unlikely that you will ever match the ugliness of Quasimodo, the king of fools.
In Jethro Compton’s site-specific adaptation of Victor Hugo’s momentous classic, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’, the audience is tempted in to submerge themselves among a very special family of villainous figures taunting and goading the poor Quasimodo into telling the story of his life,
a life plagued by loneliness and rejection.
But as the sad story of the Hunchback’s life unravels around you it becomes all too apparent that this is more a pitiful attempt by Quasimodo to tell the story how he wants it
rather than face the all too tragic reality.
Music by Gavin Whitworth
Quasimodo: Joe Hufton - Frollo: Dominic J Allen - Esmeralda: Serena Manteghi - Phoebus: Patrick Fysh
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