JOAN OF LEEDS
· 3-21 December, New Diorama Theatre
· World premiere of first ever Christmas show by Breach Theatre
· Contemporary slant on medieval mystery play with live music – based on the extraordinary true story of a runaway 14th century rebel nun
Breach Theatre return to New Diorama this December with the world premiere of their first ever Christmas show.
Based on a fascinating and scandalous true story, Joan of Leeds adds a raucously funny seasonal twist to Breach’s signature combination of thrillingly incisive storytelling, theatrical invention and the deployment of history to comment on contemporary society.
In a 14th Century Yorkshire convent, Sister Joan is blessed with unholy visions. A seductive serpent and sinful saints exalt the earthly pleasures of forbidden sex.
Her visions – and ensuing actions- cause a scandal in the order, but Joan is determined to spread her new carnal creed… even if it means getting a little creative.
Sounds fun, right?
Joan of Leeds borrows its structure from the early medieval Mystery Plays, which mixed verse and choral music to tell stories from the bible, but Breach have given the genre a sharp contemporary reinvention, mixing verse and dialogue with a psychedelic 70s aesthetic and folk-rock soundtrack, feminist undertones, uproarious humour and a healthy does of festive spirit.
The show is co-written by Breach’s Billy Barrett and Ellice Stevens, with music by James Frewer – whose credits include Middle Child Theatre’s mega hits All We Ever Wanted Was Everything and The Canary and the Crow.
The cast includes Rachel Barnes and Laurie Jamieson, both of whom also starred as actor-musicians in The Canary and the Crow at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, alongside Bryony Davies (Macbeth, Royal Exchange, A Girl In School Uniform (Walks Into A Bar), New Diorama), Olivia Hirst (Artistic Director of LostWatch Theatre, star of Secret Life of Humans, and co-writer and star of The Incident Room – both New Diorama Theatre) and Alex Roberts (The Wardrobe Ensemble’s Rocky Shock).
New Diorama Theatre Associate Ensemble Breach Theatre’s previous plays include The Beanfield, Fringe First winner Tank, and Fringe First, The Stage and Untapped Award winner It’s True It’s True It’s True which restaged the 1612 trial surrounding the rape of artist Artemisia Gentileschi and will transfer to The Barbican’s Pit in spring 2020.