BUZZ STUDIOS ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL PRODUCTION
PETTY MEN AT ARCOLA THEATRE
CREATED BY ADAM GOODBODY, JOHN CHISHAM AND JÚLIA LEVAI IN A REIMAGINING OF JULIUS CAESAR AFTER WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Buzz Studios, a new production company founded by Adam Goodbody, today announces its inaugural production, Petty Mencreated by Goodbody, John Chisham and Júlia Levai. A new play after Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the production opens at Arcola Theatre’s Studio 2 on 24 November, with previews from 19 November, and runs until 20 December. Levai directs Goodbody and Chisham in the two-hander, in the roles of Understudy Cassius and Understudy Brutus respectively.
The production company is named in honour of Buzz Goodbody, Royal Shakespeare Company’s first female director who was integral in establishing The Other Place, and a passionate campaigner for affordable theatre and accessibility in the arts. This year marks the 50th anniversary of her passing, and Buzz Studios has been created to continue her legacy of fearless, socially engaged theatre.
Adam Goodbody said today, “Buzz Studios is about keeping my aunt’s legacy alive — her belief that theatre should challenge, provoke, and belong to everyone. Petty Men feels like the perfect first step in celebrating her radical spirit and bringing her ideals to a new generation.”
On 26 November, a special Gala Evening, A Celebration of Buzz, will follow the performance, featuring a post-show panel event hosted by Professor Emma Smith (Shakespearean Studies at Hertford College, Oxford) exploring the life and impact of Buzz Goodbody. Panellists will include Tamara Harvey (Co-Artistic Director, RSC) and Trevor Nunn (Artistic Director, RSC – 1968-1986).
Buzz Studios presents,
PETTY MEN
Created by John Chisham, Júlia Levai and Adam Goodbody
after William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
Cast: John Chisham and Adam Goodbody
Direction by Júlia Levai;Set and Costume Design: Tomás Palmer; Lighting Design: Lucía Sánchez Roldán; Sound Design: Tingying Dong; Caption Design: Perri Schofield; Dramaturgy: Sofia Gallucci; Access Support: Megan Ekinsmyth; Creative Consultancy: Pinny Grylls; Technical Stage Management: Emily Darley
Produced by Tom Dixon (Buzz Studios)
19 November – 20 December
“Petty. Adjective. Of little importance.”
Petty Men is a radical reworking of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Set in a dressing room, two understudies attempt to out-perform the show relay. But their unfolding production brings their friendship to a crisis point. As worlds collide and reality warps, can they hold on to themselves?
How far would you go to achieve your ambitions?
A thrilling and ambitious take on Julius Caesar that actively engages and wrestles with the themes of Shakespeare’s text to resonate with our now.
PETTY MEN is integrating creative captioning at the heart of its production – every performance will be captioned.
John Chisham plays Understudy Brutus. His theatre credits include Eelmageddon (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bedlam Theatre), John & Christian: Teenage Heartthrobs (Camden Fringe Festival), John & Christian: Battle Counters! (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Hope Theatre, Camden Fringe Festival), PT Goodbod (King’s Head Theatre, VAULT Festival, The Canvas Cafe), 2019 Me (Golden Goose Theatre); and for film, The Regulars.
Adam Goodbody plays Understudy Cassius. Adam is an actor and producer based in London. He has recently performed at the Globe, Lyric Hammersmith and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He just wrapped a lead role in Love is Blind for ZDF Studios. His producing work has included full-length runs at Theatre503, Oxford Fire Station and Theatre by the Lake.
Júlia Levai directs. Her directing credits include Radiant Boy, Smoke (Southwark Playhouse), We’ll Be Who We Are (VAULT Festival), Northern Girls (Pilot Theatre),Did I Wake You? (Young Vic as part of ‘Five Plays’), The Prince of Homburg (The Space) and There Has Possibly Been an Incident (Blue Elephant Theatre). Her assistant and associate directing credits includeThe Land of The Living, Coriolanus, Dear Octopus (National Theatre), Hope Has a Happy Meal (Royal Court Theatre), All’s Well That Ends Well (RSC), L’Illusion Comique (National Theatre in Belgrade, Serbia) and Nora: A Doll’s House (Young Vic). Levai is an MGCfutures bursary recipient and was previously Director in Residence at the National Theatre in Belgrade, Serbia.
Tom Dixon produces. Recent producing credits include: The Tempest (The HandleBards, Shakespeare North Playhouse) Death and the King’s Horseman (Utopia Theatre, Sheffield Theatres), In Other Words (TBC Productions, UK tour), The People’s Palace of Possibility (The Bare Project, UK tour), and Anna Hibiscus’ Song (Utopia Theatre & Sheffield Theatres, UK tour).
PETTY MEN
LISTINGS
Arcola Theatre
27 Arcola Street, London, E8 2DJ
Box Office: 020 7503 1646
19 November – 20 December
All performances will be captioned.
TICKETS – £15 – £37