Polka Theatre will reopen their doors following the £8.5m Future Polka Capital Campaign with an exciting new promenade adventure RED once again bringing world class family entertainment to London.
Directed by Hannah Quigley (Marvin’s Binoculars, Schools Tour/Unicorn Theatre), the production is a thrilling mix of visual and physical storytelling, seamlessly integrating Sign Language into the performance. Audiences will get a chance to see different parts of the new building for the first time, including Polka’s brand new interactive sensory space, journeying across overgrown forests and perilous bogs on a mission to restore peace to a land overtaken by wolves.
Polka are excited to be working with a creative team made up of Deaf, Disabled and non-Disabled creatives. RED will bring together Zoë McWhinney (The Two Fridas, Chickenshed/ Handprint Theatre, V&A) in the titular role, along with Ciaran O’Brien (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, NYMT; The Story of Guts, Bristol Old Vic) as Alpha Wolf, and Bea Webster (The Winter’s Tale, RSC; Holding/Holding On, National Theatre of Scotland) as The Woodcutter.
Set in a harrowing world where the wolves have seized control from Queen Sukotai, Alpha Wolf sits on the throne. Only RED can end the conflict and bring harmony to the land however, they are nowhere to be found. Venturing across swamps and exploring the mystical surroundings, this visual and imaginative journey is a quest to locate RED, while avoiding the dangerous sleeping wolves.
RED is based on a story developed by Stephen Collins, Peter Glanville and Hannah Quigley. The production will feature set and costume designs by the award-winning Rachana Jadhav (Claire Cunningham’s Menage a Trois) and Associate Designer Ben Glover (Medea, Cockpit Theatre), with lighting by Offie- nominated Peter Small (Baby Reindeer, Bush Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe), and Sound Designer and Composer Adrienne Quartley (Augmented, Told By An Idiot). The creative team also includes the experienced actor, visual vernacular and movement director Brian Duffy (The Process, The Bunker; Troilus and Cressida, RSC) as Associate Director and BSL Consultant.
Polka’s Artistic Director Peter Glanville comments, Following on from our £8.5m Future Polka capital redevelopment campaign, I am thrilled we are launching our first season at Polka with RED. This exciting production takes the audience on an unforgettable journey across woods, swampland and a palace, and is a wonderful chance for audiences to discover the newly redeveloped Polka, as a small audience moves around different parts of the building. This imaginative visual production is performed using Sign Language as the primary language, and we’re thrilled to be working with this talented creative team.
RED is at Polka Theatre 25th September to 31st October 2021. Tickets are on sale here.
