OEDIPUSSY A Royal & Derngate co-production with Spymonkey to tour the UK

Oedipussy

A Royal & Derngate co-production with Spymonkey

Friday 3 to Saturday 18 February 2012

Emma Rice & Spymonkey join forces to create a hilarious and outrageous no-holds-barred subversion of the quintessential Greek tragedy

Following on from its acclaimed 2011 Made in Northampton season, Royal & Derngate starts the New Year with an eagerly-awaited collaboration of artists from the forefront of British theatre. In a co-production with top physical theatre company Spymonkey, adapted and directed by Kneehigh’s Emma Rice, Royal & Derngate presents the brilliantly funny new show Oedipussy, which takes to the Royal stage from Friday 3 to Saturday 18 February, before embarking on a national tour.

Hot on the heels of their acclaimed Moby Dick, Spymonkey’s hilarious physical comedy combines with the playful storytelling of Kneehigh’s artistic director Emma Rice (Brief Encounter) and writing partner Carl Grose to create an outrageous no-holds-barred subversion of the quintessential Greek tragedy. The result is a tale of forbidden lust, accidental incest, violent murder and the ultimate dysfunctional family: a jealous father, a messed-up son, and one mother of a brilliant comedy.

Taking inspiration from Pasolini, Barbarella, Bond and Kraftwerk’s electropop, Spymonkey turn their unique brand of theatrical invention to this greatest of tragic tales, bringing it to life in typically outrageous fashion with the help of set designer Michael Vale (RSC, National Theatre, ENO), costume designer Lucy Bradridge (Cirque de Soleil), lighting designer Phil Supple and featuring original music by Spymonkey’s Toby Park and Neil Filby with additional sound design by Simon Baker.

Spymonkey was founded by Toby Park, Petra Massey and Aitor Basauri in 1997. With their dark, edgy physical comedy rooted ‘somewhere between Monty Python, the Marx Brothers and Samuel Beckett’ (The Houston Chronicle), and a quartet of performers from Spain, Germany and England, Spymonkey have proved to be a truly international phenomenon, enjoyed by and accessible to a wide range of international audiences. The company is completed by Stephan Kreiss.

Other productions in the season include a trilogy entitled Festival of Chaos – which will feature as part of the London 2012 Festival. Played out across the ages, and across continents, the Festival takes us from the birthplace of the Olympics with The Bacchae to the claustrophobia of 19th Century Scandinavia with Hedda Gabler and via 1930s Spain on the brink of Civil War, to a money-hungry city increasingly out of touch with its roots – Blood Wedding.

Performance Schedule: Friday 3 to Saturday 18 February 2012

Evenings 7.45pm (except Tuesday 7 February 7pm)

Matinees – Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm (excluding Sat 4 February)

No performances on Sundays

Tickets from £13 to £28

Box Office on 01604 62481/ www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Please note that Oedipussy includes scenes of nudity and is recommended for ages 14 and above.

Tour dates:

5 - 6 March Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds

7 - 10 March New Wolsey Ipswich

13 - 17 March Liverpool Playhouse

22 - 24 March Dukes Lancaster