Following a 2017 sell-out Christmas run at the Pleasance Theatre, the multi award-winning Spies Like Us breath new life into Büchner’s classic Woyzeck, with their trademark physical style at the Pleasance this Christmas as part of their Caledonian Express season.
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.
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 explosive 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.
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.”
After scooping Theatre Weekly’s ‘Best Physical Theatre’ and Voice Magazine’s ‘Pick of the Fringe’ awards, as well as being nominated for Broadway World’s ‘Best Theatre Show’ at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this is a theatrical treat that you don’t want to miss this Christmas.
Woyzeck is at Pleasance Theatre (Downstairs) 22nd December at 20:00, and 23rd December at 14:00 and 17:00.
