Tours - Teithiau
Below is a list of tours that have been booked, some of which are still open for bookings. |
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MUSCLE
MUSCLE – WINNER OF THE BANK OF SCOTLAND HERALD ANGEL AWARD 2011
NOMINATED FOR THE BRIGHTON FRINGE FESTIVAL AWARD 2012
A PRÉCIS
Conceived by Greg Cullen and Phil Williams. Written and Directed by Greg
Cullen. Choreographed by Phil Williams. Music by Benjamin Talbott
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Based upon interviews with over thirty males, aged between 6 and 86 from across Wales and across social class, race, sexuality and religion, Muscle is a compilation of extraordinary true stories. Performed with a cast of male actors working as a thrilling ensemble playing all roles including those of women, “Muscle” depicts the modern complexity of competing claims upon male identity through the particular rather than the general. “Muscle” doesn’t set out to prove a theory, it is not PC, it offers up observations with humour, integrity and compassion. The show is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and theatrical styles rendering verbatim theatre as dance, song, poetry, monologue and compelling dramas. From the hilarious story of a young boy's first sexual experiences and his panic ridden attempt to confess his "sins", “Muscle” leads into the tender, dance driven story of Frankie, a teenager dying from Muscular Dystrophy, who manages to not only change the priorities of one, previously self obsessed, young man, but of a whole community. |
“Barry's Story”, is the remarkable tale of a ten-year-old boy, abandoned by his parents to bring up his younger siblings only to fall foul of the Care System, which incarcerates him for trying to protect his family. Barry's thwarted desire to protect causes him to turn in upon himself with a youth spent on the streets and in prisons. When Barry tries to make a fresh start he discovers that his father had sexually abused his much loved sister. His attempt to confront his Father with the truth explodes into violence, which leaves his father dead and Barry unable to defend himself in court. A fifteen-year sentence for murder seems like the final, inevitable outcome of Barry's good intentions, but somehow this remarkable man begins to educate himself and help the many young men who, like him, find circumstance has led them to be locked up. “Muscle” is populated by characters who come from all walks of life, Dock’s boys bickering about Race and personal politics, a soldier sent to prison for beating his two year old son, who now sixteen years later is about to be reunited with him, a “New Age” farmer who gets so confused at his first auction that he bids for his own sheep and an estranged Nigerian remembering his honourable father. A Kurdish refugee who escaped Sadaam’s torture chambers aged just 15 to find himself in Newport, South Wales, with another set of problems to deal with only this time they are not physical but mental and cultural. The final hilarious, but poignant story is that of Hopkin Hopkin, a miner's leader from Merthyr who was blessed with a fine mind, a political passion and a huge penis. His loss of innocence is mirrored by his realisation of a political mission to build a better world. His grandson tells the story and responds to Hopkins' assertion that he had been lucky, by wondering if indeed that had been the case for Hopkin had lived in a time when men had a more defined role. |
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| The project is ongoing and transformative because of its “magazine” format. We can put new stories in and take others out. Part of the project is now to open the website www.muscleproject.org to men across the world to post their stories. |
MUSCLE TOURING RECOMMENDED AUDITORIA AND FEE RUNNING TIME: Currently 75mins straight through, but we are considering responses from venues and can lentgthen the show to a running time of 90mins + an interval if venues prefer. PERFORMANCE SPACE FIT-UP AND TECH TIME LIGHTING AV + PROJECTION SOUND SET CAST AND CREW
Website: www.walestheatre.co.uk |
The tour is available for booking between Monday 21st May through till Thursday 31st May, 2012
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The Games An ‘undiscovered’ Aristophanes comedy – the story of three Greek nobodies caught up in a celestial bet between Zeus, Hera and Hercules. Our unwitting heroes: Stanzas (a terrible poet), Darius (the runt of the litter) and Hermaphrodite (born a girl) travel to compete in the ancient Olympics and take on the heroes of the sporting world with epic results for mankind and realistic willies. ‘A refreshing and masterful piece of original storytelling... Definitely worthy of a gold medal.’ – Three Weeks
Click here for leaflet |
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The Games incorporates clown, original music, song and shadow puppetry and is co-directed by Mark Smith (Spike) with Toby Park (Spymonkey). Original music composed by Toby Park. ‘Hilarious from beginning to end…’ – What’s On Stage Spike has been touring comedy theatre across the UK and Europe since 1997. The Games is the company’s 12th touring show. ‘Packed full of energy and fit to burst with wit.’ – The Public Reviews |
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The Games - Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011 - Press & Media QuotesThe Stage (Must See!) ‘The wickedly funny result is Horrible Histories meets Up Pompeii! with a punch in every line.’ – Mark Awde, The Stage ‘Colin Eccleston’s simple set is expertly designed to make the best out of any space, handy for directors Mark Smith and Toby Park who confidently guide the cast through a script to die for that will win over most audiences’ – Mark Awde, The Stage |
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‘This fusion of puppetry, clowning, dance and singing, with its skilfully crafted melting-pot of gags and quips, manages to captivate without ever letting up.’ – Andrew Latimer, Three Weeks ‘…it’s a refreshing and masterful piece of original storytelling.’ – Andrew Latimer, Three Weeks ‘Definitely worthy of a gold medal.’ – Andrew Latimer, Three Weeks |
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‘The writing is clever without being haughty, at times knowingly descending into comically naff rhymes and narrative cliché because it's entertaining – and that's much more important to Spike Theatre than impressing us with how clever they are.’ – Kieron Corcoran – Broadway Baby ‘Supremely deserving of your time and money.’ – Kieron Corcoran – Broadway Baby |
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‘Packed full of energy and fit to burst with wit. – Melissa Rynn, The Public Reviews |
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‘Hilarious from beginning to end…’ – Joe Plumb, What’s On Stage ‘If next year’s Olympiad in London is anything like this performance, we are in for a treat!’ – Joe Plumb What’s On Stage ‘This show will appeal to anyone who loves good old fashioned physical comedy and a few appendage jokes!’ – Joe Plumb, What’s On Stage ‘It’s got rubbish rhymes, a naked, short, fat bloke and a woman - what more could you possible want!’ – Joe Plumb, What’s On Stage |
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Musical Theatre Matters ‘Puppetry, slapstick and ‘wink, wink, nudge, nudge’ abound in this highly entertaining production.’ – Musical Theatre Matters ‘This is an innuendo filled, slapstick tour de force, true to the little seen Greek comedy form.’ – Musical Theatre Matters |
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'A hugely entertaining modern farce skillfully performed by a trio of bright young things' – Dan Lentell, Fringe Review 'Part road movie, with a dash of romcom, some penis puppets, a broadway musical and a hearty deal of bro-mance, The Games is an intelligent and witty parody/tribute.' - Dan Lentell, Fringe Review 'This is a smart and very funny, expertly produced and performed parody/tribute.' – Dan Lentell, Fringe Review '...unmissable' – Dan Lentell, Fringe Review |
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‘The audience warmed to the performance from the outset.’ – David Cox, Remote Goat ‘The pace didn't falter with some hilarious set pieces including a truly memorable chariot race.’ – David Cox, Remote Goat ‘For an hour of silly fun, a moral ending with a cast of thousands and some of the worst puns on the Fringe, the Spike Theatre company is the team to beat.’ – David Cox, Remote Goat |
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‘There's plenty of clowning, appallingly bad poetry and even worse puns from the cast of three, and it is very, very funny.’ – Peter Lathan, British Theatre Guide |
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‘This jubilant little hour of theatre has everything you might expect from a comedy about Ancient Greece, (jealous Gods, feats of strength,) and a whole lot more that you won’t see coming…’ - Hannah Friedman, Theatre Guide London ‘A whirlwind of fun with liberal helpings of romance, friendship, and heroic revelations.’ - Hannah Friedman, Theatre Guide London ‘The Games is part Monty Python, part Aristotle, part musical farce, and is overall a very playful, enjoyable show. - Hannah Friedman, Theatre Guide London’ |
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‘[The Games] is possessed with so much charm and enthusiastic energy that it proves impossible not to like’ – Edinburgh Spotlight ‘An enjoyable and good-natured comedy pentathlon: farce, slapstick, music, puppetry and puns’ – Edinburgh Spotlight |
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‘The Games from Spike Theatre is gloriously funny…’ – Ben, One4Review ‘Liam Tobin, Jamie Wood and Lauren Silver are all magnificent in their versatility.’ – Ben, One4Review |
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‘I laughed throughout. Utterly, utterly brilliant.’ - Martin Powell, Scotsgay |
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Liverpool Echo 8/10 '[Spike] don’t disappoint in the off-kilter stakes here, with the 70-minute Olympic romp a riot of tomfoolery, twisting wordplay, physicality, music, puppets and an awful lot of near nudity and comedy genitalia.' - Catherine Jones Liverpool Echo '...so deliciously excruciating you’ll watch through your fingers.' – Catherine Jones Liverpool Echo 'Engaging and original... fun and games – Catherine Jones Liverpool Echo |
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Made Up: On Stage in Liverpool ‘An absolute riot, and worth 70 minutes of any punter's time.’ - Vicky Anderson ‘You'd be hard pressed to find a funnier theatre show up there this summer.’ - Vicky Anderson ‘Bursting at the seams with silliness, songs, and gags… it speeds by in a tornado of slapstick, clowning and pure entertainment.’ - Vicky Anderson ‘The Games packs a serious comedy punch and is real feelgood theatre that you can palpably feel winning over the audience with its positivity and wonderful sense of fun.’ - Vicky Anderson |
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