WE ALL FALL DOWN Exploring the darker side of storytelling
Over the past five years. En Masse theatre has garnered a reputation for creating exciting, imaginative productions for young people and their families. Their latest show. We All Fall Down. is a tale of two villages — Eyam. where the people are saintly. and Darkling Welles where the inhabitants are corrupt. One little boy must go on a voyage into hell to teach them a lesson.
While the central character's journey is clearly inspired by Dante. the starting point for the play was the real- life Eyam — a 17th century ‘plague village'. whose inhabitants chose to isolate themselves rather than see the infection spread. ‘I first found out ab0ut Eyam from my mum who had taken my nan there.‘ says artistic director. Amy Leach. ‘I thought the story was fantastic — gripping. theatrical and surprisingly true.‘
As Leach points out. the show contains a good balance of light and shade. ‘Our plays often explore the dark side of life. but they are also balanced with a huge amount of comedy. irreverence and light relief.‘ (Allan Radcliffe)
I Underbelly, 0844 545 8252. 2-24 Aug, 4. 75pm. 29—5370 lifts-£7). Previews 37 Jul (3 I Aug, £76.
CLOCKHEART BOY
Mechanical inventions explore life and death
It may not seem the ideal topic to build a family show around. but grief regularly pops its head up in children's film and theatre. As Nicola Cutcher. co-director of Clock/rear? Boy says. 'even The Lion King is about death'.
Cutcher and her company. Dumbshow. are returning to the Fringe after a triumphant run last year with To The End of the World. This time they're back with what Cutcher terms 'a macabre fairytale — a bit Tim Burton-like.‘
Aimed at children. families and anybody with an interest in physical
theatre. the show centres on a grieving professor who has lost his daughter. Down in the basement. a chorus of wacky inventions with super powers are his only companions. until a boy without a heart washes up on the shore in need of help.
“It's a sad show in that it's about grief but there's a lot of joy in it.’ says Cutcher. 'Because it's also about enjOying life to the fullest.‘ (Kelly Apter) I C. 0845 260l272. Until 16 Aug.
3. 75pm, 537.504.0430 ($550—$850).
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER
Comic capers
‘Clowning has an ageless appeal.‘ says Clive Nicholas Andrews. of his new one-man show. The Lighthouse Keeper. ‘When I was a kid I grew up loving people like Charlie Chaplin. Laurel and Hardy and Buster Keaton. I'd call my style clowning with added vaudeville — I do dance routines to Sinatra songs. and hat tricks rather than circus skills.‘
The Lighthouse Keeper's eponymous hero. Oscar. is very much a lone clown iii the style of Keaton or Chaplin. and not just because of the
appeals to him at first.' says Andrews. 'Once he arrives there. of course. he gets a little stir cra/y. There's slapstick. there's water flying around — not too much on the audience but Oscar gets pretty wetf' (Kirstin liines)
I Dance Base. 225 5525. 7— 70 Aug. Noon. 5‘7. Preweiv (5 Aug. 5.‘(>‘.
PAINTING MUSIC WORKSHOP
Get creative with crochets
We all have images in our heads when we listen to music. but capturing them on paper isn't something many people attempt. Rhuti Carr of Painting Music.
however. has made an entire career
With a little encouragement. workshop attendees learn how to turn notes into lines and shapes — building them up into an original artwork. ‘By the end they've got a painting of a piece of music and they've learnt a bit about the oboe. piano and cello.‘ explains Carr. ‘And then they can all go away and paint their favourite song at home.’
Carr's workshops have been popular with families at the Fringe for the past two years. with young and old grabbing a paintbrush and exploring their creativity. ‘The workshops suit any age group.’ she says. ‘Last year we had everything from babies and toddlers through to adults who fancied having a go.' (Kelly Apterl I Sweet ECA, 0870 24] 0136. 7—25 Aug (not I l), 72.50pm, £73 (£5.50).
lonely nature of his occupation. 'Oscar is down on his luck and looking for a job. but he's also a bit of a romantic. so the position of lighthouse keeper
JAMES CAMPBELL’S SHUT UP STUPID
Comic plays for kids of all ages
James Campbell is envied and acclaimed across the comedy universe for carving out a triumphant career performing stand-up for kids. While his Comedy Club 4 Kids continues to train young folk from the ages of six upwards in the hard-nosed business of making people laugh, in recent years Campbell has turned his talents to drama.
Plays such as The Spinistry of Moonerism and The Onomatopoeia Society have been a hit with audiences of all ages, thanks to their irreverent humour and gentle word-play. ‘I try and write plays for everyone,’ says Campbell. ‘Kids get put into categories too much. If it was possible to have my plays listed in both the theatre
42 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE Ill Jul-T Aug 2008
out of doing iust that. Her workshops feature live music. large sheets of paper. paint and a lot of imagination.
and kids sections, or if there was just a category for things you can’t categorise, that might be good.’
He describes his latest Fringe play, Shut Up Stupid as an ‘experimental black comedy’, which deals with such hot topics as language, teddies, neuro-linguistic nightmares and blankies. While Campbell’s taking a break from his one-man stand-up show this year, he’s still happy to be keeping so many irons smouldering in the fire. ‘The best thing about my work is that it gets to be in two places at once, sometimes more,’ he says. ‘Some days I have a play on in one theatre, the Comedy Club 4 Kids in another and me doing my one-man show somewhere else. Eventually I shall take over the world and then I’ll paint it shiny.’ (Allan Radcliffe)
I Sweet ECA, 0870 24/ 0736, 3—25 Aug, 4pm. {77—538 if‘()‘~-5‘/). Prewews 3/ Jul—2 Aug. 15.