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The Wild Bride - Kneehigh Theatre
The Wild Bride PIC CREDIT Steve Tanner
THEATRE:UK
FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT
“Quirky and larky, magical and wild.” The Times (UK)
Kneehigh Theatre Company is renowned for exhilarating and surprising retellings of classic stories. The Wild Bride is no exception.
Based on a Brothers Grimm fairytale and narrated by Satan himself (who also turns his hand to playing the guitar, banjo, drums and double bass), The Wild Bride is a rollercoaster of theatre, dance and humour, set to live blues and bluegrass. Dark and magical, it has attracted rave reviews in the UK, with The Guardian’s Lynn Gardner calling it “the most defiant display of survivor-hood since Gloria Gaynor”.
The Wild Bride is the story of what happens when a man accidentally sells his daughter to the Devil. Betrayed by her witless father and rejecting the Devil, she meets her prince. Fortune changes again as the war starts, and our heroine is left alone in the wilderness to embark on an enchanted and epic voyage of discovery, healing and hope.
Over the past 30 years, Kneehigh has gained an international reputation for innovative storytelling. Their 2008 adaptation of Brief Encounter was a Broadway hit and nominated for a Tony Award. The New York Times called their dark retelling of The Red Shoes (2010) “another ringing testament to the theatrical inventiveness and exploratory intelligence of Kneehigh”. The company has performed everywhere from a local village hall to London’s National Theatre. Proudly based in Cornwall, Kneehigh’s own venue, The Asylum, is an enormous travelling theatre tent.
Set in an elemental world of petals, fire and clay, The Wild Bride is a rare and magical tale from a rare and magical company. It is ideal for adults and brave children alike.
The Wild Bride is at the Opera House from 24 to 27 February for the 2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival, Wellington, 24 February – 18 March. Tickets $18 – $78 available from Ticketek.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 12+
ENDS
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