Arcadia, Illyria, Wonderland -
Bristol Old Vic ventures into the imagination
this Autumn and Christmas 2004

Bristol Old Vic journeys into the worlds of Stoppard, Shakespeare and Carroll in a season that takes audiences into the furthest realms of the imagination.

Autumn

Autumn brings two classic comedies to the Main House. Tom Stoppard's masterpiece Arcadia, a co-production with Birmingham Rep, is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, whose sparkling production of The Rivals delighted audiences in the summer.

Shakespeare's most perfect comedy, Twelfth Night is directed by acclaimed Shakespearean director David Farr, Bristol Old Vic's joint-Artistic Director. His award-winning productions include A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Comedy of Errors (both for Bristol Old Vic) and Coriolanus (RSC). He is directing Julius Caesar for the RSC this autumn.

Christmas

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is Bristol Old Vic's Main House Christmas show for all the family. Lewis Carroll's universally adored story is newly adapted by joint-Artistic Director Simon Reade. Melly Still directs after her critically acclaimed Bristol Old Vic production of Beasts and Beauties created a sensation with children and adults alike in Spring 2004. Recommended for ages 5+.

In the Studio, Travelling Light Theatre Company and Bristol Old Vic join forces to co-produce Quentin Blake's Clown. Written by Britain's best-loved illustrator and children's author, Clown is an enchanting Christmas show for very young children.

Studio Autumn

In the Studio, Bristol Old Vic presents some of the most exciting visiting companies and cutting-edge productions.  Simon Reade's production of Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful returns - fresh from the Edinburgh Festival and prior to a transfer to London's Soho Theatre. Paul Chequer's solo performance captivated audiences during its sell-out run in April. Toby Farrow returns to direct Tracy Letts' explosive Killer Joe. This American comic nightmare will be Bristol Old Vic's second co-production with Convent Productions, following the smash hit Kangaroo Valley. Throughout November, the Studio is host to some of the country's most electrifying performers: East-Asian theatre company Yellow Earth, Bristol-based Peepolykus, and two of Mayfest's successes - Tom Wainwright and The Special Guests.

Autumn 2004 is launched with Bristol Old Vic playing host to Shared Experience who return to the Main House with a revival of their acclaimed A Passage to India. This vibrant production took audiences by storm when it was first performed in 2002.

In the Main House


9 -11 September
Shared Experience and Nottingham Playhouse present
A Passage to India
by E.M. Forster (1924)
adapted by Martin Sherman (2002) 
director. Nancy Meckler    designer. Niki Turner    lighting. Chris Davey    composer. Peter Salem   
company movement. Liz Ranken   
                                  
Shared Experience returns to the Main House with a revival of A Passage to India, by E.M. Forster and adapted by Martin Sherman.

Adela Quested voyages from England, intent on discovering the 'real India' before marrying Chandrapore's local magistrate. She agrees to go to the Marabar caves with Aziz, a young Indian doctor - unaware of the passions and dark fears their visit will unearth.

The production took audiences by storm when first performed in 2002. Using a combination of physical theatre, live music and vibrant design, this refreshing adaptation captures the explosive tensions that exist when two cultures collide. Shared Experience, and its joint-Artistic Director Nancy Meckler, return to the Main House after their gripping production of Gone to Earth in May 2004.


17 September - 16 October
Bristol Old Vic and Birmingham Rep present

Arcadia
by Tom Stoppard (1993)
director. Rachel Kavanaugh   designer. Stephen Brimson Lewis   composer. Catherine Jayes
lighting. Hartley T.A.Kemp     sound. Jason Barnes

Tom Stoppard's brilliant comic masterpiece is a detective story that spans two centuries. Arcadia celebrates the battle between reason and passion, and unveils the unpredictability of the human heart.

1809. The ordered classicism of Lady Croom's grounds at Sidley Park is being turned into picturesque romantic chaos, as fashion dictates. In a room overlooking the garden sits Lady Croom's brilliant adolescent daughter, Thomasina Coverly, with her tutor, Septimus Hodge, friend to Lord Byron who is also staying in the house.

180 years later, academic hack Bernard Nightingale arrives to uncover the scandal of what exactly happened that weekend. Bernard thinks he may be on to a critical and commercial winner. If he is right.

Tom Stoppard's previous work includes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, The Real Thing, Jumpers and the Academy Award-winning screenplay Shakespeare in Love.

Rachel Kavanaugh directs after her sparkling Bristol Old Vic production of The Rivals in the summer and recent success at Birmingham Rep with the David Hare Trilogy and The Wizard of Oz. Olivier Award-winning designer Stephen Brimson Lewis is welcomed to Bristol Old Vic for the first time. His work includes Uncle Vanya (National Theatre), Timon of Athens, Macbeth and Othello (RSC).


22 October - 20 November
Twelfth Night

by William Shakespeare(1600)
director. David Farr    designer. Angela Davies    composer. Keith Clouston    lighting. Neil Austin    sound. Jason Barnes

Shakespeare's most perfect comedy, Twelfth Night is directed by David Farr in his third Shakespeare production for Bristol. David is now seen as one of Britain's leading Shakespearean directors. Previous Shakespeare productions include the award-winning A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Comedy of Errors (Bristol Old Vic), Coriolanus (RSC), and The Taming of the Shrew (Nottingham Playhouse). This summer David is directing Julius Caesar for the RSC, which opens shortly before Twelfth Night.

"..the new regime at Bristol delivers the goods with David Farr's beguiling Dream" - The Guardian (A Midsummer Night's Dream)

 "Not just one of the best productions I have seen of this play, not just the best Shakespeare this year, but the first production to convince me that this is one of Shakespeare's great tragedies "-  Financial Times (Coriolanus)

Full of mistaken identities, misdirected passions, tricks and unexpected tenderness, Twelfth Night is a comic masterpiece. Twin sister and brother Viola and Sebastian are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria. Viola becomes embroiled with the lovelorn Orsino and the proud Olivia. Meanwhile, Olivia's steward Malvolio is tricked by local rogue Sir Toby Belch into believing that Olivia is destined for him.

Long-time collaborators Angela Davies and Keith Clouston are reunited with David Farr after the TMA award-winning A Midsummer Night's Dream at Bristol Old Vic in 2003.



26 November - 22 January
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll (1865)

dramatised by Simon Reade (2004)
director and designer. Melly Still           co-designer. Katie Sykes    composer. Adam Cork   
lighting. Bruno Poet    sound. Jason Barnes

This Christmas, Simon Reade adapts Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, one of the best-loved and well-known children's classics of all time.

From tea parties with the Mad Hatter to croquet with the Queen, this magical adventure appeals to the child in everyone. Follow Alice on her amazing adventures, meeting an enormous white rabbit, a confused caterpillar, a great grinning cat and many other weird and wonderful characters.

Melly Still returns to Bristol Old Vic, after the critically acclaimed Beasts and Beauties created a sensation with audiences in Spring 2004:



 "This is one of the finest family shows I have seen." Daily Telegraph

"A winning evening in every way" The Guardian *****


Her previous work includes the revolutionary Grimm Tales (Young Vic, London), Haroun and the Sea of Stories (National Theatre) and Tales from Ovid and Midnight's Children (RSC).

Composer Adam Cork's previous work includes music for Henry IV (Donmar Warehouse), Suddenly Last Summer (Albery). Previous work at Bristol Old Vic was the co-production Scaramouche Jones, starring Pete Postlethwaite.


In the Studio


8 - 23 September
Private Peaceful
by Michael Morpurgo

adapted and directed by Simon Reade
designer. Bill Talbot              lighting. Tim Streader             sound. Jason Barnes 
starring. Paul Chequer

Private Peaceful  returns to Bristol Old Vic after a hugely successful run in April 2004, proving popular with audiences of all ages. Private Peaceful will also be performed at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh Suite as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 6 - 29 August. It will transfer to London's Soho Theatre 25 September - 10 October.

Private Peaceful relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn.  During the night he looks back at his short but joyful past growing up in rural Devon: his exciting first days at school; the accident in the forest that killed his father; his adventures with Molly, the love of his life; and the battles and injustices of war that brought him to the Front Line.

This one-man show was adapted from the award-winning book by Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo. Private Peaceful is adapted and directed for stage by Bristol Old Vic's joint-Artistic Director Simon Reade. His previous adaptations include Ted Hughes' Tales from Ovid and Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children both for the RSC and Jill Tomlinson's The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark for Bristol Old Vic.

Paul Chequer resumes the role of Tommo Peaceful for which he received critical acclaim. Best-known as Jamie from C4's teen drama As If, he has just finished filming a two-part drama, Like Father, Like Son, also for C4. Previous roles include Wilfred Random in the film Tea With Mussolini (starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith), and he recently appeared for the National Theatre in Tales from the Vienna Woods.


25 September - 13 November
Saturday Morning Children's Shows
Saturday Morning Shows for young children return by popular demand.

25 September     

Moby Duck presents The Story Bundle            There's something strange about Pom's bundle - things are moving inside. Explore the richness of Korea - with live music, evocative masks and puppets.
Suitable for 4 yrs+



2 October

Strawberry The Clown. Always a winner. Great slapstick.
Suitable for 4yrs+



6 November

Aesop's Touring Company presents Adventures of the Gingerbread Man. Join our hero on his adventurous journey in search of somewhere better.
Suitable for 2 - 6 yrs



13 November      

Cornelius and Jones presents The Snow Queen. This musical play takes place in a fairytale world full of magical beings. When little Kay gets a speck of magic dust in his eye, it changes the way he sees the world.
Suitable for 5yrs+





11 September, 7 - 10 October

Poetry Can
Bristol Old Vic hosts the annual Bristol Poetry Festival presenting internationally renoun poets such as Jean 'Binta' Breeze, Chloe Poems, Maura Dooley, Michael Rosen and John Agard.


13 - 30 October

Bristol Old Vic and Convent Productions present

Killer Joe
by Tracy Letts (1994)
director. Toby Farrow 

The explosive Killer Joe, by American playwright Tracy Letts, shocked and excited audiences when first performed in Edinburgh and London's Bush Theatre and West End 1994. Tracy's play Bug, originally commissioned by David Farr, has just been a huge hit off Broadway this year. He is one of America's most exciting new talents.

A rundown trailer park outside Dallas, Texas. Twenty-two year-old Chris Smith, faces execution for a drugs debt. He hires Killer Joe Cooper to rub out his Mom for her $50,000 life insurance policy. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Following his hit show Kangaroo Valley, director Toby Farrow returns with this award-winning comic nightmare. Killer Joe will be Bristol Old Vic's second co-production with Convent Productions.





21 - 30 October
Travelling Light Theatre Company presents
Too Many Cooks
written and directed by Greg Banks (2004)

For young children, the award-winning Travelling Light Theatre Company presents Too Many Cooks, during half term. Come into the palace kitchen for a feast of fairytales, served up with a generous dollop of madcap misunderstandings and physical comedy. An enchanting treat for adults and children aged six and over. 


2 November
One Night Stand
One night. Five companies. Fifteen minutes each. Bristol Old Vic presents One Night Stand, an evening of cutting-edge performance showcased by emerging and established physical and visual theatre performers from around the South West.





4 - 6 November
Yellow Earth Theatre presents
58
by Philippe Cherbonnier and David K.S. Tse

The East Asian theatre company, Yellow Earth Theatre is welcomed to Bristol Old Vic Studio for the first time with their haunting production 58, a new play by Philippe Cherbonnier and David K.S. Tse. Moving, poignant and political, this story is based around the 58 Chinese found dead in the back of a lorry at Dover in 2000.

Yellow Earth produces work that explores universal themes from an Asian perspective, celebrating cultural diversity  through the integration of theatre skills from East and West.





8 - 9 November
The Special Guests presents
Underneath All The Noise Somebody Was Singing

The Special Guests bring their convention-busting hit, Underneath All The Noise Somebody Was Singing.  Exhibitionists in disguise struggle to find the right words, test their levels of physical endurance, walk the red carpet barefoot and end up with egg on their faces


10 - 11 November

Tom Wainwright presents

One

Tom Wainwright, the hit of Mayfest 2004 returns with One, the story of ten year old Eric, waging war against the "terriblists" from his bedroom fortress.





12 - 13 November
Peepolykus presents
All in the Timing

Peepolykus returns with some absurdist flights of fancy in their latest work All in the Timing. Peepolykus have collaborated with cult American writer David Ives, winner of the 1994 Outer Critics Circle award. An evening of wild comedy and strange encounters.



18 - 27 November
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School presents
The Mysteries

Adapted from the Wakefield, York and Chester cycles by Christopher Denys

The Creation, the Expulsion from Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah's flood, the Life, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ are all vividly depicted in the rich, passionate and humorous verse of the Mysteries.




2 - 4 December

Bristol Old Vic Youth Theatre presents
The Children
by Edward Bond (2000)
director. Jo Darby

Bristol Old Vic Youth Theatre is back this autumn with a rare production of The Children by Edward Bond - one of the UK's most exciting and controversial playwrights.

When Joe undertakes a bizarre errand for his mother, he sets off a chain of life-changing events. Directed by new Youth Theatre Director Jo Darby, the 13 to 14 year old members of the Youth Theatre will tell the story of a group of friends thrown into a world where they must fend for themselves.


9 December - 15 January
Bristol Old Vic and Travelling Light Theatre Company present
Clown
by Quentin Blake (1998)
director. Sally Cookson            composer. Stu Barker

Travelling Light Theatre Company and Bristol Old Vic present a magical Christmas show for very young children. Quentin Blake's Clown tells of a toy clown who, finding himself thrown into a dustbin with other discarded toys, sets out to find himself a new home. This wordless story will be Travelling Light's 25th production and their first co-production.

Quentin Blake is one of Britain's most successful illustrators and children's authors. Winner of the Smarties Book Award, he is internationally celebrated both for his solo work and for his collaborations with authors such as Russell Hoban, Michael Rosen and Roald Dahl.

Clown follows the nationwide success of Travelling Light's earlier production, Cloudland, also directed by Sally Cookson.

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