Interviews

Five Reasons To See … Foster&Déchery’s Epic

Editorial Staff
Off-West End

Epic, by new ensemble Foster&Déchery – a collaboration between Lucy Foster (Improbable associate director) and Chloe Dechery (Corn Exchange associate artist) – was originally developed at the BAC and sets out on a playful and experimental journey through 20th century history.

The piece brings together a new ensemble of four performers, including solo artist Ed Rapley (Arnolfini associate artist) and Pedro Ines to explore the past from a light-hearted and witty perspective. Using choreography to evoke particular decades and grand battle re-enactments, Epic creates moments of intimacy while also connecting audiences to the bigger picture.

The ensemble give us their five reasons to see Epic on its national tour which reaches the Soho Theatre on 26 May and runs until 28 May 2011.

1. An international, collaborative and innovative performance

Epic is an international collaboration between very exciting theatre makers and artists from France, England, Portugal, Australia, USA, Sweden and Bulgaria, devising a multi-layered show mixing text, video, original music and choreography.

2. It looks back at the whole 20th century

An unexpected and grand journey through the last hundred years, you’ll feel utterly uplifted by the performers’ attempt (and consequent failure) to trace back the whole of the 20th century in less than 90 minutes!

3. Epic looks at the worst and most grandiose battles of the last century

And as a consequence, you’ll see a massive fight re-enactment you’re not ready to forget.

4. We have created a show about and with our grandparents

Using video and Skype interviews, we you will see the performers’ grandparents on stage, acting alongside them!

5. We pay homage to Brecht, in a cheeky way

You’ll get to meet the real Bertolt Brecht on stage (although possibly with a French or Portuguese accent and a fake beard…)

Epic starts its national tour at Junction Sampled: Festival of Performance in Cambridge on 30 April and plays dates in Newbury, Birmingham, Exeter, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Totnes, Oxford and Ipswich, finishing in Colchester on 9 June. The show comes to the Soho Theatre from 26 to 28 May 2011.