Month: February 2020

Sonia Friedman Productions presents
THE SHARK IS BROKEN
Written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon
Directed by Guy Masterson
 

• THE SELL-OUT, SMASH HIT OF THE EDINBURGH FRINGE 2019 TRANSFERS TO THE WEST END FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED RUN.
   
• TAKING AUDIENCES BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF THE ICONIC BLOCKBUSTER JAWS, THIS IS THE 2ND PRODUCTION THAT SFP HAS ANNOUNCED AT THE AMBASSADORS THEATRE THIS YEAR.
   
• CO-WRITTEN BY ROBERT SHAW’S SON IAN, THIS BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, DEEPLY MOVING NEW PLAY IMAGINES WHAT HAPPENED ON BOARD THE ORCA WHEN THE CAMERAS STOPPED ROLLING.
   
• IAN SHAW STARS AS HIS FATHER ROBERT SHAW, ALONGSIDE DEMETRI GORITSAS AS ROY SCHEIDER AND LIAM MURRAY SCOTT AS RICHARD DREYFUSS.
   
• TICKETS ARE ON GENERAL SALE THIS FRIDAY FROM £10. OVER 500 TICKETS PER WEEK WILL BE AVAILABLE AT £27.50 OR UNDER.
   

Cape Cod, 1974: shooting on JAWS has stalled. The film’s lead actors – Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss – are stuck on a boat, frustrated by foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Awash with alcohol and ambition, three great white sharks start to bare their teeth…

The Shark is Broken reveals the hilarious and moving behind-the-scenes drama on one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters.

Sonia Friedman Productions is delighted to announce its second production at the Ambassadors Theatre in 2020. After a sell-out, critically acclaimed premiere at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe, Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon’s brilliantly funny play will arrive in the West End from May 11th. Tickets will be on general sale from £10 this Friday.

The Times ★★★★★
“Did I mention waves? Get ready for this play to make some. Do they need a bigger boat? Actually, I think they are going to need a bigger theatre — and soon.”

Metro ★★★★★
“This play packs plenty of bite.”

The Telegraph ★★★★
“Something unexpectedly profound and emotionally serrated lurks below the apparently frothy surface of this dive behind the scenes of the making of JAWS.”

The Arts Desk ★★★★
“This play deserves a life beyond the Fringe; yes, they’re going to need a bigger theatre”

The Stage ★★★★
“An intoxicating combination of behind-the-scenes gossip and contemplation of the nature of popular art.”
 

COME WHAT MAY: THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO MOULIN ROUGE

Enjoy this all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza as you enter the secret world of one of the greatest movie-musicals of all time as Come What May: The Ultimate Tribute to Moulin Rouge comes to Darlington Hippodrome for one night only on Wednesday 4 March.

Bursting at the seams with timeless classics including Come What May, Your Song, Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend, Roxanne and Lady Marmalade plus hit songs from The Greatest Showman and other iconic movie musicals.

Travel back in time as the children of the revolution take you on a thrilling non-stop journey into the sexy, disreputable and glamorous underworld of Paris.

Sweeney Entertainments, co-founded by Julie and Peter Sweeney, has been providing a wide repertoire of top-quality touring shows for theatre and corporate events for over fifteen years both in the UK and internationally and now boasts a repertoire of fourteen touring productions. Julie said “This is our most exciting new production for 2020. The songs of Moulin Rouge are unforgettable…a spectacular combination of classic songs brought to life under the glitz and glamour of the Moulin Rouge.”

It’s a ‘Spectacular, Spectacular’ evening of unforgettable dancing, dreams, adventure and above all – love.

Come What May: The Ultimate Tribute to Moulin Rouge is at Darlington Hippodrome Wednesday 4 March.

For more information or to book call 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

JAMIE WILSON AND WHOOPI GOLDBERG

ANNOUNCE

CLIVE ROWE

TO JOIN THE CAST OF THE SMASH HIT MUSICAL

UK AND IRELAND TOUR OPENING AT

CURVE, LEICESTER ON 21 APRIL 2020

LONDON SEASON AT THE

EVENTIM APOLLO FROM 21 JULY 2020

MORE TICKETS FOR LONDON SEASON ON SALE

FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY AT 10.00AM

Producers Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg are delighted to announce that Olivier award- winning actor Clive Rowe will join the cast as ‘Eddie Souther’ in the smash-hit musical “SISTER ACT”. He will play the part in Leicester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester and London. In London, Clive will star opposite Whoopi Goldberg as ‘Deloris Van Cartier’ and Jennifer Saunders and ‘Mother Superior’. Brenda Edwards will play ‘Deloris Van Cartier’ at selected performances during the London season and all venues on the UK and Ireland tour. Casting for the role of Mother Superior on the UK and Ireland tour and the full company will be announced soon.

Tickets for the recently announced extra week of performances in London go on sale at 10.00am this Friday, 7 February.

Clive Rowe won the Olivier award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for “Guys and Dolls” at The National Theatre and was also nominated for Best Supporting Performance in “Carousel”,also at The National Theatre. At 2009’s Oliviers, he was nominated for the Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre award for “Mother Goose” at Hackney Empire. His many West End and touring credits include “Ladykillers” at the Gielgud Theatre, “Chicago”at the Adelphi Theatre, “Sweet Charity”at the Donmar Warehouse, the UK tour of “The Wind in The Willows” and “Me and My Girl”at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Based on the iconic movie, this sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music tells the hilarious story of the disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a convent!  Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. 

SISTER ACT has direction by Bill Buckhurst, choreography by Alistair David, Set Design by Morgan Large,  Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell, Sound Design by Tom Marshall and Musical Supervision by Stephen Brooker. Casting is by Stuart Burt. 

SISTER ACT features original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken(Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. SISTER ACT is produced by Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg. Tom Leonardis, Head of Whoopi’s production company, will also be on the producing team.

The pantomime paved with gold! Royal & Derngate announce their 2020 pantomime, Dick Whittington, now on sale!

Royal & Derngate are delighted to announce that this year’s pantomime will be paved with gold in the classic family production of Dick Whittington, running from Thursday 10 December 2020 to Sunday 3 January 2021.

Audiences will join the handsome hero Dick Whittington as he heads to London to seek fame, fortune and happiness, with this trusty cat Tommy in tow. Guided by the magical Fairy Bow Bells on an adventure that sends him from London town to the High Seas headed for Morocco this year’s action-packed pantomime will be full of laughter, music and dance.

Staged by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the team behind Royal & Derngate’s annual festive offering, this year’s production goes on sale to those with priority access (including group bookers and members) from Wednesday 5 February, with general on sale from Wednesday 12 February.

There are concessions, generous discounts for groups and special rates for schools available for selected performances. Tickets prices start from £12*, and with thousands of festive theatregoers attending Royal & Derngate’s pantomime each year, early booking is advised. With a special earlybird offer, customers can get 25% off tickets in the top three price bands on many performances when booking before the end of February.

Speaking on the title announcement, Qdos Entertainment Managing Director Michael Harrison said: “We’re all extremely excited to be staging Dick Whittington in Northampton this year, the first time the title has been performed at the Royal & Derngate in almost twenty years. Our timeless tale will be brought to life with star casting, stunning scenery and special effects and all the magic that Northampton audiences have come to expect from us.”

Royal & Derngate Chief Executive Jo Gordon said: “Dick Whittington promises to be great fun for all the family, a real treat for all ages. We pride ourselves on offering a truly family friendly experience at Royal & Derngate, and it’s always a pleasure to see so many young people discovering the joy of theatre for the first time at Christmas.”

Can Dick Whittington outwit the evil rodent King Rat, free London from his team of revolting rodents and win the beautiful Alice’s hand in marriage? Audiences should book now to find out in the ultimate magical pantomime adventure!

For more information about Dick Whittington performances and prices and to book, visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk or call Box Office on 01604 624811.

Delight at international award for home-grown production

Bath’s egg theatre is celebrating after a production which began life as part of their Incubator programme to develop new works, has scooped a major award at a theatre festival in Philadelphia.

Bath based performance poet Toby Thompson first presented I Wish I Was A Mountain as a scratch performance at the egg’s annual Incubator showcase in 2017. Since then this innovative piece of theatre, based on a fairy tale by Herman Hesse, has been developed into a full-scale performance which has been highly acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, with The Guardian describing Toby as “a star in the making”.

Last month, I Wish I Was A Mountain was presented at the annual IPAY (International Association for Performing Arts for Youth) Showcase in Philadelphia, alongside productions and companies from South Korea, Canada, USA, Australia, Chile, Sweden, Ireland and Belgium, where it was awarded the prestigious Showcase Victor Award, for the show that is voted the most popular at the festival by more than 400 delegates in attendance.

This award is a huge achievement for all involved with the new work programme at the egg theatre, as well as for Toby himself. Toby was originally a member of the egg’s Young People’s Theatre, when at the age of 16, he was asked to perform one of his early poems for Kate Tempest and Cicely Berry at the RSC, and later at the Roundhouse and House of Lords. Since then, he has appeared at most major UK festivals, including Glastonbury, and regularly on the spoken word circuit, with commissions from the RSC, the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton, and Bath-based charity 5x5x5=creativity.

Becky Vowles, creative stage manager and production manager of I Wish I Was A Mountain, came up through the ranks of Young People’s Theatre productions at the egg and is now a much sought after production manager for many Bath and Bristol-based theatre companies.

I Wish I Was A Mountain is produced in association with award-winning Bristol-based theatremakers Travelling Light and was originally commissioned by Imaginate and Brighton Dome. It is directed by Lee Lyford, a former artistic director of the TRB Young People’s Theatre and now the Artistic Director of Cardiff based Theatr Iolo, and designed by Anisha Fields whom The Guardian highlighted as one of the twelve UK Theatre Practitioners to look out for in 2020.

The egg theatre is the Theatre Royal Bath’s performance space for children and young people, programming a range of high quality touring productions aimed at children and families, and housing the Theatre Royal’s Theatre School and Bath Theatre Academy.

The Incubator, the egg’s idea development programme, has been running since 2014. The aim is to deepen the quality of art available for young audiences, and to inspire theatre makers to think about children and their place in our society differently, by giving artists space, time and support. The egg offers three selected artists the opportunity to develop a piece of theatre for a young audience over the course of a year.

For further information regarding the Incubator, future showcases, scholars past and present, where to watch or how to book the work created, contact Creative Producer Tim Bell: [email protected]

A season of stories retold at Leeds’

Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre

DeNada Dance Theatre | 2Faced Dance Company

Ballet Central | Seeta Patel Dance

Expressions 2020

April – July

The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds has announced a new season opening in April 2020. Telling old and new stories through dance, the season will include performances by returning companies DeNada Dance Theatre and 2Faced Dance Company, and Seeta Patel Dance will perform at the theatre for the first time in collaboration with Leeds-based South Asian Arts-uk.

Following an incredible Leeds debut in 2018, DeNada Dance Theatre returns on 03 April 2020 to open the season with Mariposa. A transgender retelling of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, this new dance-drama from Artistic Director Carlos Pons Guerra is set in post-revolution Cuba and passionately explores what we are ready to sacrifice in order to be loved and accepted.

On 23 April 2020, 2Faced Dance Company also return with a new triple bill of dance, EVERYTHING [but the girl]. Renowned for dance of extreme physicality, the programme features choreography by Tamsin Fitzgerald and Fleur Darkin. 7.0 (Fitzgerald) looks at our responses when everything we know is taken away from us, The Qualies (Darkin) brings to life US writer David Foster-Wallace’s study of tennis player Michael Joyce, and Hollow in a World Too Full (Fitzgerald) follows one man’s journey through an overwhelming world.

In an exciting first for the theatre, Seeta Patel Dance will reimagine the iconic ballet The Rite of Spring in the powerful Indian dance style Bharatanatyam. A retelling of the pagan folk story set to Igor Stravinsky’s famous score, the performance will showcase some of the finest Indian classical dance talent. Opening with a short performance from South Asian Arts-uk, The Rite of Spring will be performed for one night only on 13 May 2020.

The season will also host the annual return of graduate dance company Ballet Central on 26 April 2020. In a captivating programme by six internationally-acclaimed choreographers, see the next generation of dancers from London’s Central School of Ballet embark on their professional careers.

In addition, Northern Ballet & Partners will host Expressions 2020 on 06 – 09 July 2020. An annual celebration of inclusive dance, Expressions returns bigger than ever this year to showcase the work of community and professional disabled dance groups from across the UK. The only event of its kind in Yorkshire, this year there will also be professional development opportunities on inclusive dance practice and teaching, including a free conference, panel discussions and networking opportunities. More information about the full programme can be found at northernballet.com/expressions

The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre’s spring season is an unmissable opportunity to see high quality dance at great value, performed in a local intimate setting. Tickets can be booked online at theatreleeds.com, by calling the Box Office on 0113 220 8008 or in person at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Northern Ballet, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7PA.

Cast announced for Old Red Lion triptych –
Nuclear War by Simon Stephens alongside
Buried and Graceland
The Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, Islington, London EC1V 4NJ
Tuesday 3rd – Saturday 21st March 2020

The brilliant cast has been announced for the thought-provoking triptych coming to The Old Red Lion, spearheaded by award-winning Simon Stephens’ (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) soul-stopping Nuclear War, with the harrowing Buried and the darkly comic Graceland.

Directed by Alexander Knott, Nuclear War will be brought to life by Zöe Grain (Oneness, Southwark Playhouse; Hedgehog, BoxLess; LOOP, tour) and Freya Sharp (Cockroached, Pleasance; Twelfth Night, Box Clever Theatre; A Christmas Carol, Albany Theatre). This revival of Stephens’ suggestive and experimental Nuclear War follows a woman trying to experience everything life has to offer, just to feel something again.

Based on the nerve-racking true story of Max Spencer who was buried alive in World War II, Buried, written by Max’s son David Spencer, will be performed by Max’s grandson James Demaine (Bath, The Bread & Roses Theatre; LOOP, tour; Beauty and the Beast, Square Chapel Arts Centre). This groundbreaking anti-war play takes an honest look at the human condition.

Darkness looms over the classroom in Graceland, by emerging talent Max Saunders-Singer, which will be performed by TV regular Anthony Cozens (Doctor Who, Sherlock and The Last Kingdom, BBC). Pushed to the edge by his wife – and Elvis Presley – Cozens’ overworked and harassed science teacher is just one small spark away from combustion.

These plays find commonality in the exploration of human suffering and how we survive the unimaginable, resonating with today’s fraught social divisions in a not-so-United Kingdom.

Alexander Knott, Artistic Director of The Old Red Lion, comments, I’m thrilled to bring together an exceptional cast from across BoxLess, Bag of Beard and Grindstone. Zoe & Freya are hugely physical performers and encapsulate the fusion of text and movement that BoxLess strives for. Buried was written for James, and as grandson of the protagonist of Buried, this hugely prescient, family story can only be told by him. Finally, we’re thrilled to be working with Anthony Cozens, who will bring an edge of unsettling mania to a darkly comic monologue.

The triptych is a new model for The Old Red Lion, following current demand for ‘box-set theatre’, with a world-renowned playwright to support brilliant emerging talent, while building a new way of seeing and supporting new writing.

Invisible Harmony 无形的和谐
Purcell Room, Southbank Centre: Tuesday 4th February 2020, 7.45pm
Freedom Hi 自由閪
VAULT Festival: Tuesday 10th – Sunday 15th March 2020, 7.30pm

Hong Kong has been convulsed by an ongoing protest movement which has increasingly been seen as a last stand for its semi-autonomy from China since March 2019; a year which also saw the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Solidarity movements have formed across the globe, including repeated gatherings of up to 4,000 people outside the Chinese embassy in London.

Providing a platform for the often overlooked perspective of British East Asians and Hong Kongers based in the UK, Papergang Theatre brings the one-night-only Invisible Harmony 无形的和谐 at the Southbank Centre as part of the Chinese Arts Now Festival and Freedom Hi 自由閪 at VAULT Festival to ground geopolitics in the very human level experienced by many British people with Chinese heritage. They offer a kaleidoscope of perspectives on complex events, and hopefully some healing and resilience.

Invisible Harmony 无形的和谐 bears witness to East Asian political resistance through poetry, spoken word and dance. A howl of pain from one of the most censored, silenced and sanitised ethnic groups on the planet, it asks how much freedom matters and what East Asians will risk and sacrifice for it. This poetic dance piece sees choreographer Julia Cheng (BBC Young Dancer 2019 mentor; founder of House of Absolute) and playwright Daniel York Loh take on the politics of oppression and protest produced by Papergang Theatre, in a collaboration with performance artist enxi (Dark Matters; Clouds Over Beijing), director Kim Pearce (Forgotten; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), video artist April Lin (award-winner at Zubroffka International Short Film Festival), sound designer Nicola Chang (SiX; STOMP!) and lighting designer Simisola Majekodunmi (SOHO; UKIP the Musical). The piece is followed by a panel discussion on images of East Asian political resistance.

Freedom Hi 自由閪 is a collage of multi-disciplinary expression about the Hong Kong AntiELab protests that, by March, may be a retrospective but, then again, may not be. Building a conspiratorial relationship with the audience, they will choose which performance pieces to experience within the framework of the show. Personal experiences and geo-political commentary combine in an act of total theatre and performance art created by UK-based Hong Kong and British East Asian artists during the protests. They don’t know how this ends, how this will ever end – everything about this show is subject to change.

The creatives involved include theatre-maker Bonnie Chan (Little Bean Theatre), actor Yik Sau Chung (Boh Boh Finds Home), performer Isabella Leung (Instant Acts: Against Violence and Racism), playwright and actor Daniel York Loh (Forgotten; The Good Immigrant), actor and filmmaker Jennifer Lim (A Monster Calls), and actor and writer Gabby Wong (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story). Alongside them are dancer Shum-Shum Pui Ying (The Devisers Company), performance artist Max Percy (My Dad’s Gap Year), musician Angela Hui Wa Nok (Joy Hockings Percussion Prize) and multi-disciplinary artists Ghost and John (Meniscus).

On Invisible Harmony 无形的和谐, Daniel York Loh comments, “Harmony” (和谐) has been a central obsession of Chinese authoritarian rule for thousands of years. The name of the system may change but still we are rigidly “harmonised”. Expected to comply. As a passive monolith. Change is seen as “revolution”. It disrupts, it dismantles, it dances with defiance. Invisible Harmony 无形的和谐 is a free flow of poetry, of dance, of a cry for freedom. It is inspired by events in history, of 30 years ago in Beijing Tiananmen Square and on the streets of Hong Kong right now, as seen on the screen and hidden in the screen.

On Freedom Hi 自由閪, director Kim Pearce comments, For those from Hong Kong and those that care about Hong Kong, 2019 was devastating, traumatising, inspiring and demanding. Articulating the present moment, triangulating between colonial history and an increasingly totalitarian Chinese government is endlessly complex. The work that UK based East Asian and Hong Kong artists have created around this is important and asks big questions that apply to anyone with a stake in democracy. It’s been my privilege to work with these artists and to create this platform for their work at VAULT Festival 2020

Grand Opera House York – until Sat 8 February 2020

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

Based on the film of the same name and the book by Enda Walsh, Once is currently touring the UK and is in York until Saturday.

Straight from the get go we are treated to the musical sounds and energy of a good old Irish pub. As we are sitting there waiting, even before the play starts, musicians casually stroll on stage and just start playing setting the tone and promise of what is to come.

Once is essentially a boy meets girl story, a love story that intertwines Irish folk music with a yearning love. It follows the story of Guy (Daniel Healy), who is ready to throw away his music, and guitar, after one last busking session. Girl (Emma Lucia) just so happens to catch his final “performance” and recognising his talent, doggedly encourages him to not throw it all away.

Set over five short days we learn that lovelorn Guy, his girlfriend has gone off to America and met someone else, just wants to give up, but quirky, stubborn Czech Girl will not let him. She has her own story, married with a young daughter, with a husband nowhere to be found. They come together with their love of music and her belief in him. They make music together, recording his own original work in the studio. They fall in love and he falls back in love with his music, but does it have that fairy-tale ending? You’ll just have to watch it and see.

Both Healy and Lucia bring to life their characters, and we believe in them. At times though I felt their chemistry was lacking a little something. Their vocals were always powerful and at times very emotive, which helped. I especially liked how Lucia played Girl, direct and a straight shooter, but with a comedic element and Healy’s heartfelt vocals.

The icing on the cake though are the ensemble, they are excellent and really make the show what it is. All the cast sing and play their own instruments, some I’ve never seen before. Multi talented, they bring such boundless energy and life to the show, making such splendid music together.

Music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, this musical is a whirlwind of a show. Great music and a true classic that should be on your go and see list. 

Leeds Playhouse – until 8 February 2020

Reviewed by Sally Richmond 

5***** 

Who is Mr Ubu (Ubu Roi / King Ubu), where did he come from and how an earth did such a coarse, lawless and unrelenting buffoon (remind you of anyone?) become so powerful?  These are just some of the questions one asks as you become embroiled and enticed into a harlequinade rumpus at the Leeds Playhouse (a venue that always bills the most dynamic and extraordinary shows and gives the warmest of welcomes).

When participating in Kneehigh’s Ubu (written and co-directed by Carl Goose / co-directed by Mike Shepherd alongside musical director Charles Hazelwood) and participate you will because as soon as it kicks off, one can’t fail to join in the thigh-slapping, trippy, insane and staggeringly brilliant mayhem!  Before you know it, you’ll be singing along with gusto to punk classics, Britney Spears and trying to make the sound of a giraffe as you hold an inflatable. Yes, bonkers it is and such a perfect way to brighten and enlighten a dark February evening by bringing some rambunctious play into your life! 

The famous saying, ‘madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring’, totally encapsulates the Kneehigh Ubu experience –  because ‘bored’ one could never be and ‘ridiculous’ it certainly is!  As this unrestrained, uncensored and unrestricted melee unfolds; the political parallels between the original 1896 Alfred Jarry’s world and the modern day shenanigans of today’s parliamentary governments are shockingly mirrored.  The first-rate, clown-like japers one witnesses throughout the show including: crude babbling, stealing of the audience’s possessions and a war with beach balls – really do reflect some of the many scandalous acts that powerful leaders have and continue to commit today.  

Kneehigh’s Mr Ubu, played by the outstanding Katy Owen, completely epitomises the character of a ruthless dictator.  Owen’s talent at making the monster of Ubu appear unhinged through her physical movements (twitching and over the top swivel-eyed dancing) portray a 24-carat raving fool so well, that you just can’t take your eyes off her throughout the whole show.  Also giving spectacular performances were: Mike Shepherd – Mrs Ubu, Kyla Goodey – Bobbi, Naill Ashdown as Jeremy Wardle, Dom Coyote – Nick Dallas, Adam Sopp – Captain Shittabrique, House band -Alex Lupo, Justin Lee Radford, Dom Coyote, Renell Shaw and Delycia Belgrave (Lead singer).

The band, Delycia and The Sweaty Bureaucrats, were exceptional, note perfect and got the whole audience singing as we entered and harmonizing as one as we left – this was after we’d joined forces of course, to bring Mr Ubu and his tyrannical reign to a final end. Filled with constant tomfoolery, rip-roaring slapstick and improvised horseplay, Kneehigh’s Ubu is like an unstoppable party that’s got way out of control but, you’d never want to leave because it’s such good fun and impossible not give yourself up to the hilarious hullabaloo of disorder and chaos.