A nation wakes up from war, the lake sits stagnant and eerie and all the while a record spins. Franz Woyzeck, a young soldier, grapples with his fragmented mind as he sinks deeper and deeper below the surface of reality. Attempting to provide for his illegitimate son and lover; rank and rule conspire to plunge Woyzeck into a kaleidoscopic dreamscape where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted. Following a sell-out 2017 Fringe debut, the award-winning Spies Like Us return to Edinburgh and breathe new life into Büchner’s classic tale with their trademark explosive physical style.
Spies Like Us is an ensemble physical theatre company comprised of seven Young Pleasance graduates as part of the Pleasance Futures initiative. The company focuses on devised visual storytelling which puts movement at the forefront of the narrative. Their award-winning debut production Our Man in Havana ingeniously dissected themes of misinformation and corruption using only five actors and a vacuum cleaner and enjoyed sell-out runs in both London and Edinburgh.
From hilarity to heartbreak, Spies Like Us’ new show promises to retain all the invention and playfulness of their last as they continue to develop and hone their unique brand of physical storytelling.
Director Ollie Norton-Smith comments “The infamously fragmented quality drew us to Büchner’s masterpiece. In an age where social inequality and mental fragility are more prevalent than ever, the play has lost none of its poignancy since 1837 and is an ever-timely reminder of the need to treat others with respect, dignity and empathy. In rooting this production in a post-war, mid-twentieth century setting we are able to tap into themes of displacement and a sense of a post-war hangover, whilst also offering us the incredible and diverse music of the period. This tragic tale of a man’s harrowing descent into madness promises to enthral and move audiences while forcing them to challenge the ways in which they trust what is depicted on stage.”
Woyzeck is at Pleasance Dome (10 Dome) 1st Aug 2018 – 27th Aug 2018 (not 13th or 23rd) at 15:00.
