- March 2005
On Christmas Eve, two strangers arrive in the Irish village of Bochtan. The crops are blighted, and all must prepare for another year of poverty. But in the face of their misfortunes, the villagers begin a laughing contest... Years later, Mommo tells the story of this night of mirth, repeating it time and again without ever reaching its tragic conclusion. Every evening her tale intrudes on her granddaughters' modern lives, and its repetition seems to hide the secret of their broken family. But tonight, things turn out differently...
Tom Murphy´s unique combination of drama and storytelling has made him one of the most acclaimed contemporary Irish dramatists. In this grotesque Christmas tale, he addresses the haunting past of Ireland's poverty with all the fierceness of satire and the black humour of tragi-comedy. When bedtime stories go wrong, and families are torn apart by misfortune, what else can we do... but laugh?
- March 2005
"This is the game of life as we all have to play it." The devious Mrs. Chevely gatecrashes the party of Sir Robert Chiltern, MP, to inform him that unless he supports her fraudulent schemes she will reveal to the press that he made his fortune by selling a government secret. Trapped in the glittering, steely and unforgiving world of Victorian politics, Sir Robert, with the help of his suave, sophisticated friend Lord Goring, must walk the tightrope between corruption and disaster, and above all, prevent his secret from ever reaching the ears of his perfect wife, Gertrude. But Lord Goring has problems of his own. His irascible father keeps insisting that he marry, or do something else useful with his life. Mabel, Sir Robert's pretty and vivacious younger sister, is of the same opinion. Mrs Chevely is openly trying to blackmail him into marriage. But all he wants to do is... nothing.
- February 2005
'Inspired by a true story of a young black con man, Paul, who insinuates himself into the lives of wealthy New York couple, Ouisa and Flan Kittridge, claiming he knows their son at Harvard. They are captivated by Paul's fascinating conversation and allow him to stay with them, but discover him in bed with a young male hustler. They discover friends of theirs have had a similar run-in with Paul. Intrigued, they piece together the connections that gave Paul access to their lives. Meanwhile, Paul's cons unexpectedly lead him into darker territory. As the final events of the play unfold Ouisa suddenly finds herself caring for Paul, feeling that he gave them far more than he took, and that her once idyllic life was not what it seemed to be...' An exciting and engaging piece of contemporary theatre. A tight, stylized production, focussing on isolation, paralysis, social responsibility, and how we are only ever separated by 6 degrees from any other person in the world.
- November 2004
After his mother runs off with a bisexual trainee dentist and his American cousin leaps unceremoniously out of the closet, David is forced to confront difficult issues about his own sexuality. As his best friend Jane tries to get her mother to understand what a lesbian is and his father Derek is keen to ensure he doesn't let the family down by becoming an uphill gardener, this new comedy proves that from chaos can come a happy conclusion!
- November 2004
Born a slip of a girlyboy named Hansel in commmunist East Berlin, escape was only possible via a dodgy sex-change operation, a marriage to a lecherous American GI, displacement to a Kansas trailerpark and a quest to become America's biggest rock star. But the newly-christened Hedwig didn't count on meeting Tommy Gnosis - the love of her life, who stole her songs and became a star without her. Tonight, Hedwig is about to exorcise a few demons, tell us a few home truths, and play the most raucous, raunchy rock show Cambridge has ever seen, whilst Tommy himself plays at the Corn Exchange nearby.
A cult hit across the Atlantic, this is its first ever amateur student outing. Douse yourselves in blood and glitter for a unique rock musical. You'll laugh You'll cry. You'll get Hed.
- November 2004
The Bacchae is the ultimate Greek tragedy, combining tense dialogue, unforgetable characters, matricide, mass slaughter and a little bit of lesbianism to keep everyone's attention. This brand new re-working combines original text with modern langauge to create a new and exciting play set in the world of the 1920's, featuring sex, violence, unbelievable magic and "all that jazz"!
"Simon Evans’ version of The Bacchae is an assured and vigorous performance
text. The writing is sharp and urgent, giving a contemporary feel without
ever seeming self-conscious. None of the play’s challenges were ducked – in fact, several were given illuminating interpretations... The theatrical concept was extremely effective... There was a highly unified feel to the piece, and in terms of writing, directing, design and acting."
Dr Peter Raby (editor of numerous Cambridge Companions, including Oscar Wilde and Harold Pinter)
"This was a very exciting piece of theatre – coherent, original and
theatrical... Simon Evans’ version is vivid and playable and his ensemble highly talented."
Simon Waters, author of “World Music” (Donmar Theatre, 2004) and “After the Gods”
- November 2004
When divorced couple Elyot and Amanda discover they are occupying adjacent apartments on the French Riviera, there is potential for sparks to fly. The fact they are both there on honeymoon with their new respective partners sets the scene for Coward's wittiest comedy.
Coward assesses the farcical and the serious; the passionate and the plain, in an hilarious presentation of man's ever-conflicting desires.
- October 2004
BLUE HUG'S WIDELY ACCLAIMED EDINBURGH FRINGE SHOW RETURNS TO CAMBRIDGE!
Come to Elsie’s, where Teddy’s ready for Secret Sports. Tonight, Doris will be ‘Billy’, knickerbocker-clad and eager to please. Dressing up, drumming, murder and marriage - the widely acclaimed revival of Stanley Eveling’s tale of nothingness and prostitution.
What the Press Said:
"Madness has never been so appealing." - Awarded Best of Festival Theatre in List Magazine (Issue 503)
'A glimpse of triumph' - The Times (17/08)
'The epitome of the Fringe' - Scotsman (28/08)
'More tightly layered with meaning than a goon show.' -
Guardian
'Eveling is the most fascinating playwright since Pinter.' - Boston Globe
'This play is, without a doubt, a masterpiece.' - TES
Constellations from the Festival Rags:
* - edfringe.com
1/2 - Edinburgh Guide
**** - Threeweeks Magazine
PEMBROKE RUN: Tickets £5, and 20% discount for college families of five or more!
- May 2004
Nick and Mick are rivals competing for the rights to produce an explosive new reality game show. Beneath the shroud of constructive and friendly instruction, the Director of the company manipulates and deceives them from day one, creating a tension between self-belief and teamwork. Implicated in this web of deceit is the Director’s shy but obedient secretary, Meg, who finds herself in the hands of all she encounters, used as a tool in their own self-advancement and corrupt dealings. When the Director’s wife, Debbie, asks Meg to seduce her boss to test his love and faithfulness, the barrier between business and pleasure is crossed and inner anxieties and desires revealed.
The debut performance of new writing within Cambridge promises to be a comic and diverse portrayal of stereotypical scenarios, with a tragic twist to boot. Expect everything except your expectations!
- March 2004
"What we're trying to do is write cricket bats, so that when we throw up an idea and give it a little knock, it might...travel..."
Art within life ... life within art ... Stoppard's "The Real Thing" explores relationships, life and love in a complex and witty web of playful theatrical games. Henry, a playwright and intellectual, weaves his words for a living, but where does the boundary between writing and living lie? Why does a man so engaged with his art find it so hard to express his love for Annie? ...And just what is it about cricket?
- February 2004
Five Night Stand will comprise five nights of stand-up comedy with a different comedian each night. It offers comedians the rare opportunity to experiment with sustained stand-up in Cambridge.
- November 2003
"Shall I tell you what you heard just now? Nothing in the world but your own terrors calling"
Locked in a cellar during the Red Terror in St Petersburg, 5 British people are held captive, unsure of their future. After 6 weeks as the strain is starting to show, each individual responds to the pressure in different ways: one focuses on maintaining her beautiful image, another resorts to British stiff upper lip, a third survives through exaggerated concern for others. Into this situation steps a small man, Derry Moore, "the Irish Hans
Andersen", who has been mistakenly captured in place of his
counter-revolutionary brother. Derry relieves the tension by helping the captives to get lost in a tale of leprechauns and wonderful colours - the fairy tale of the title.
- November 2003
- October–November 2003
Set in 18th century Venice, A Servant To Two Masters is a classic tale of love, honour, sun-dried tomatoes, and Truffaldino- a servant trying his best to earn an extra lira. Underpaid and over-stretched, Truffaldino scurries through mishap after mishap as he performs chores for two unwitting masters: Florindo, and his lover, Beatrice, in disguise as her dead brother. As excuses for his mistakes become more fanciful, chaos ensues - mistaken identities, betrothals, duels, near-suicide and a fabulous feast twice-enjoyed occur, before Truffaldino is finally found out. With its colourful array of comic characters, Carlo Goldini´s farce, given a new lease of life by Lee Hall´s recent adaptation, mixes historical Italy and classic 18th century commedia with cockney cheek.
- March 2003
Controlled mayhem.
- November 2002
- November 2002
- October–November 2002
- March 2002
