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Punchdrunk theatre company returns with show shrouded in secrecy Punchdrunk theatre company returns with show shrouded in secrecy
(6 months later)
Most theatre companies announce new productions in a press release. Only one would deliver that release by asking journalists to go to a mysterious video shop in east London, have them go down dark corridors and stairs to meet a slightly creepy old man repairing his film equipment who then proceeds to tell a puzzling and scary story, before sending them on their way with a copy of the announcement.Most theatre companies announce new productions in a press release. Only one would deliver that release by asking journalists to go to a mysterious video shop in east London, have them go down dark corridors and stairs to meet a slightly creepy old man repairing his film equipment who then proceeds to tell a puzzling and scary story, before sending them on their way with a copy of the announcement.
The theatre company is Punchdrunk and on Thursday it unveils its first big production in London since The Masque of the Red Death six years ago.The theatre company is Punchdrunk and on Thursday it unveils its first big production in London since The Masque of the Red Death six years ago.
Details are fairly scarce. What is known is that it will be called The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable; that it is based on Georg Büchner's unfinished masterpiece, Woyzeck; that it is a co-production with the National Theatre; and most remarkably that it will be staged in a secret, disused 19,000 sq metre venue – about as big as three football pitches – in central London.Details are fairly scarce. What is known is that it will be called The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable; that it is based on Georg Büchner's unfinished masterpiece, Woyzeck; that it is a co-production with the National Theatre; and most remarkably that it will be staged in a secret, disused 19,000 sq metre venue – about as big as three football pitches – in central London.
Punchdrunk worked with the National on Faust, staged in Wapping in 2006, and then The Masque of the Red Death the following year at Battersea Arts Centre. "This is more of a proper co-production," said Punchdrunk's founder and artistic director, Felix Barrett. "More support, more resources and they are helping with the funding for it. It's great – we've had such a fruitful relationship with them over the years so to be doing something where we're proper partners is spot on."Punchdrunk worked with the National on Faust, staged in Wapping in 2006, and then The Masque of the Red Death the following year at Battersea Arts Centre. "This is more of a proper co-production," said Punchdrunk's founder and artistic director, Felix Barrett. "More support, more resources and they are helping with the funding for it. It's great – we've had such a fruitful relationship with them over the years so to be doing something where we're proper partners is spot on."
There has been one big reason for the six-year gap, said Barrett. "Finding the space is always the main issue, full stop. It's really tough. We've been looking for space for a London show for three years. There have been a couple that we've almost got there and they've fallen through."There has been one big reason for the six-year gap, said Barrett. "Finding the space is always the main issue, full stop. It's really tough. We've been looking for space for a London show for three years. There have been a couple that we've almost got there and they've fallen through."
Choosing the site is all about size, location, character, atmosphere and length of time they can have it for, said Barrett. "As our ambition has grown and as we've wanted to create things audiences haven't seen before, we need to bed in for a little bit longer to make sure we've got time to build it."Choosing the site is all about size, location, character, atmosphere and length of time they can have it for, said Barrett. "As our ambition has grown and as we've wanted to create things audiences haven't seen before, we need to bed in for a little bit longer to make sure we've got time to build it."
The production will be set in a seedy Hollywood with the secret building serving as a film studio complex.The production will be set in a seedy Hollywood with the secret building serving as a film studio complex.
Barrett said it was a thrill to do Woyzeck on this scale. "It is a play that I absolutely adore, that has been really inspirational for me over the years. In fact it's almost the pivotal text for Punchdrunk as a company."Barrett said it was a thrill to do Woyzeck on this scale. "It is a play that I absolutely adore, that has been really inspirational for me over the years. In fact it's almost the pivotal text for Punchdrunk as a company."
Punchdrunk emerged from a kind of disillusion with what might be regarded as mainstream theatre. "The conventions of going to the theatre are set so that all it does is switch you off," said Barrett. "You're not engaged with the work so you just tune out because it is so formulaic and by the time you're sat there you're in a vegetative state and you're not ready to receive at all.Punchdrunk emerged from a kind of disillusion with what might be regarded as mainstream theatre. "The conventions of going to the theatre are set so that all it does is switch you off," said Barrett. "You're not engaged with the work so you just tune out because it is so formulaic and by the time you're sat there you're in a vegetative state and you're not ready to receive at all.
"So if you flip it and it is all about the danger and the anticipation then suddenly you are ready for what might happen. Your brain is charged – your body is active and your mind is active – so the whole show will hit you more deeply.""So if you flip it and it is all about the danger and the anticipation then suddenly you are ready for what might happen. Your brain is charged – your body is active and your mind is active – so the whole show will hit you more deeply."
It is never an ordinary night at the theatre with Punchdrunk. At the 2009 production of It Felt Like a Kiss for the Manchester festival, audience members found themselves being chased by a maniac with a chainsaw. The Doctor Who show that Punchdrunk produced for children, The Crash of the Elysium, was fine for most kids but a bit too real for some.It is never an ordinary night at the theatre with Punchdrunk. At the 2009 production of It Felt Like a Kiss for the Manchester festival, audience members found themselves being chased by a maniac with a chainsaw. The Doctor Who show that Punchdrunk produced for children, The Crash of the Elysium, was fine for most kids but a bit too real for some.
There are no interval drinks at Punchdrunk shows. "We do all-the-time drinks," said Barrett. "Over the years, we have had audience members who come and barely leave the bar and that's fine, so we have had to make sure that there's enough show in that bar. With this new show we're trying to take it up a notch and if you do choose to spend slightly too long in there it will be worth your while."There are no interval drinks at Punchdrunk shows. "We do all-the-time drinks," said Barrett. "Over the years, we have had audience members who come and barely leave the bar and that's fine, so we have had to make sure that there's enough show in that bar. With this new show we're trying to take it up a notch and if you do choose to spend slightly too long in there it will be worth your while."
The shop in Dalston will be used by Punchdrunk as a kind of live-action promo for two weeks and is not just being visited by journalists. Anyone can drop in. "It is for people to stumble in off the street."The shop in Dalston will be used by Punchdrunk as a kind of live-action promo for two weeks and is not just being visited by journalists. Anyone can drop in. "It is for people to stumble in off the street."
• The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable begins with previews on 20 June and runs until 29 September.• The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable begins with previews on 20 June and runs until 29 September.
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