Perilous Tales is a collection of tales involving peril ... of some sort. That much is fairly obvious really. In Tale One we meet Cedic and Sybil, two characters intent on never changing and hanging on to their happiness no matter what the cost. In Tale Two the dreadful Princess Loki risks everything to find her own song as she stampedes through her spoilt life. In Tale Three the vain (and rather stupid) Gorgeous Gerald is stalked by a Ghost who wants to live again in a really handsome body to win back his wife Imelda. Finally Ed and Molly Grimble play one computer game too many .......
The tales are performed 'cartoon' fashion by an ensemble cast, with the use of many props, costumes and a handful of puppets.
Perilous Tales was performed as part of a double bell with Seeing Things
Loki ... Joanna Handley
Thomas ... Liam Stobart
Gorgeous Gerald ... Matt Oliver
Amy (friend to Gerald) ... Megan Withers
Keira (friend to Gerald) ... Fran Sparks
Cedric ... Joe Rolt & Scarlett O'Donnell
Sybil ... Alys Wood
Wisdom ... Bethanie Evans
Joy ... Vicky Stack
Grace ... Mary Ann Wall
Imelda ... Cathy Scott
Ed Grimble ... Alex Cofield
Molly Grimble ... Bethan Clement
Zed ... Emma Gibbons
Ghost ... Josh Herriott
Vamp ... Eliott Brinkworth
Everybody multi-roles in this theatrical event (one hesitates to call it a 'play'), but we're not releasing any further details of who plays what, when and how (and especially why). We would if we could, but we can't (be bothered).
Directed & Designed by Barbara Hockley
The stage managed itself with assistance from Barbara & Jim
Lighting by Boz Farey
Sound by Greg Swinford
Soundtrack put together by Jim Rolt at Chelston Studios
Original music and 'Mad World Remix' by Corin Harper
Set assembled by Jim Rolt, Trevor Smith, Emma Gibbons and Barbara Hockley
2d props by Emma Gibbons
Choreography & Make up by The Company
Costumes & Puppets by Barbara Hockley & Alison Stobart. With thanks to Jenny, Ann & Judith in the Costume Dept.
Photos by Jim Rolt
This review appeared in 'Off The Record' December/January 2008/9
In “Perilous tales” the Conquest youth theatre gave us a mad, silly and inventive peek into a world of twisted fairytales where not all stories end happily ever after. A warning to all of us that too much happiness maybe our downfall, that being beautiful doesn’t necessarily make you clever or popular, that having everything isn’t everything and, most horrifying of all, video games can have you listening to ABBA for all eternity if you don’t read the small print. An unsettling and macabre show populated with quite stunning decadent weirdness throughout whilst at the same time including singing and dancing and being thoroughly enjoyable for most ages. The singing by Mary Ann Wall was particularly fine and the dancing was riotously infectious with some interesting ‘Thriller’ moves and Alex Cofield providing some rather inventive and highly amusing moves of his own.
Each part of the play used a fair range of different dramatic technique to highlight the abilities of it’s very capable cast. There was the wonderful pantomime Princess Loki played by Joanna Handley constantly clocking the audience with snide glances and comments. A surely typecast Matt Oliver as gorgeous Gerald, beset by plaintive ghosts, manipulative girls and unfeasibly large nails, playing completely and hilariously in verse. A madly modern couple robotically protecting their happiness with walls, and a wicked witches video game whose final level ends in the horror and madness of Saturday night fever. At each turn we were kept wondering as the weirdly macabre ensemble twisted and played with our expectations of how fairytales should be and even put in a few excellent morals at the end, as all good fairytales should.
All in all the play was a huge success showing off the tremendous talents of the actors, and its writer and director Barbara Hockley, who must surely possess one the weirdest minds in the area. Mention must also be made of the staggering amount of time, effort and work put in by the lighting, sound and set design crew. In particular the costume design which was amazing and colourful and, bearing in mind that this show was only on for three short nights, simply had to seen to be believed. A truly wonderful and engaging performance which by the end had me dancing in my seat. Again! Again!
Review by Bethan Hockley
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