Classics tales for The Brewery

Coming up at the The Brewery, the Tobacco Factory’s studio theatre, as part of their new season, two classic tales:

Henry V – Tues 21 September – Saturday 2 October

Company Boudin’s new production of Henry V is very much of our time. Produced “on a shoestring”, Company Boudin have used their tremendous versatility to populate Shakespeare’s classic history with just four actors.

Shakespeare’s text starts with the Chorus apologising that he cannot recreate the battle of Agincourt onstage and begging us to use our imaginations and so begins Andy Burden’s stripped down version.

Director, and regular Tobacco Factory collaborator (Alice Through The Looking Glass, A Christmas Carol and the upcoming Pinocchio), Andy Burden says; “The challenge for me was to do a stripped down version of one of Shakespeare’s great plays that is accessible and as true Shakespeare’s words as possible. We have four fabulously strong actors who will present a very earthy idea for the show – based on our soldiers retelling the story”

Henry V is to be performed by South West actors who bring a wealth of experience to the performance: Alex Dunbar has worked on many West End shows, Mark Ross has performed with RSC, Dan Winter has performed for National Theatre and Alan Coveny brings experience from Show Of Strength and Shakespeare at The Tobacco Factory. Andy Burden has worked at The Lyric Hammersmith, The Soho London, as well as shows for The Natural Theatre Company, Big State and Theatre West.

Bonnie and Clyde – Tues 5 – Sat 23 October

Following their “wonderfully warped adult fairytale” The Red Man and last year’s critical success, Out of Touch, Fairground returns to the Tobacco Factory with Bonnie and Clyde, premiering in The Brewery in October prior to going on touring.

Set in the American South, during the age of the Great Depression, the story charts the last few days of the lives of Bonnie and Clyde. On the run from the law, and holed up in a derelict barn, they find themselves alone for the first time in many months. As time passes the fantasies and fictions they have created begin to fall away, revealing the truth of their relationship.

Catherine McKinnon (Anthony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Out of Touch, The Red Man) and Eoin Slattery (Eddie King’s Unforgettable Tour of The Forgotten, Rum and Vodka, Women on the Verge of HRT) star as the fugitives, and the story is written by Adam Peck, currently under commission from Bristol Old Vic and Ustinov, Theatre Royal Rath.

Fairground was formed in 2007 to produce theatre that “blurs the boundaries between physical theatre and new writing”. The company’s work combines original scripts, new musical compositions and highly physical performance.