2 – 10 February

BLUE BEARD, written and directed by Emma Rice, receives its world premiere in Bath as Wise Children’s brand-new production opens at the Theatre Royal.

Blue Beard, a thrilling new stage show from Wise Children, adapted and directed by award-winning Emma Rice, opens at the Theatre Royal Bath appearing from Friday 2^nd to Saturday 10^th February, prior to a UK tour. The cast for this world premiere production includes Stu Barker, Mirabelle Gremaud, Stephanie Hockley, Patrycja Kujawska, Adam Mirsky, Katy Owen, Robyn Sinclair and Tristan Sturrock. Blue Beard is a co-production with Birmingham Rep, HOME Manchester, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and York Theatre Royal.

Blue Beard the Magician makes hearts flutter and pupils dilate. With a wink, a stroke and a flick, things just seem to vanish. Cards, coins, scarves… and women. Puff! Gone. Without a trace. He meets his match when his young bride discovers his dark and murderous secret. She summons all her rage, all her smarts and all her sisters to bring the curtain down on his tyrannous reign.

Emma Rice (Wise Children, Kneehigh, Shakespeare’s Globe) brings her own brand of theatrical wonder to this most beguiling and disturbing of tales. With her signature sleight of hand, Blue Beard explores curiosity and consent, violence and vengeance – all through an intoxicating lens of music, wit and tender truth. When someone tells you not to look, open the bloody door!

Mirabelle Gremaud, who plays the role of Lost Sister, returns to the company after appearing in Wise Children at The Old Vic, London and on UK tour, Malory Towers at Bristol Passenger Shed and on UK tour, and Wuthering Heights at Bristol Old Vic, the National Theatre and on UK tour. Her theatre credits as an actress, dancer and contortionist include Le Conte des Contes at Théâtre Kléber-Mélau, Peter Pan at Birmingham Rep, Falling for Complicité, Acrojou at the Roundhouse, and her solo show Sombre Sloughing in the UK and Europe on tour.

Stephanie Hockley, who plays the role of Trouble, returns to Wise Children after previously appearing in Wuthering Heights in the UK and on US tour, and in Malory Towers. Her theatre credits also include Robin Hood The Rock n’ Roll Panto, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel at Liverpool Everyman; A Christmas Carol, Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Storyhouse, Chester; Return to the Forbidden Planet at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, and Robin Hood at the Watermill Theatre.

Patrycja Kujawska plays the role of Treasure, returning to Wise Children having previously appeared with the company in Bagdad Cafe and in Wise Children at The Old Vic, London. Her other theatre credits include Cyrano and The Grinning Man at Bristol Old Vic; The Tin Drum, Midnight’s Pumpkin and 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips for Kneehigh; The Red Shoes, The Wild Bride and Tristan & Yseult for Kneehigh on tour in the UK and America; Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and Other Love Songs) for Kneehigh on tour in UK and Shanghai; Don John for the RSC and many productions for Vincent Dance Theatre.

Playing the role of Lost Brother is Adam Mirsky whose theatre credits include Town Planning in the Apocalypse and Handel & Hendrix for the National Youth Theatre; Emile & Emily for Tightrope Theatre; Imaginary Natural Beings at the Vaults; Maklena for Night Train Theatre; Mojave for Citizens Band Radio; Romeo and Juliet at Cambridge Arts Theatre, and Boys and Little Shop of Horrors for ADC Theatre. His television work includes Endeavour.

Katy Owen, who plays the role of Mother Superior, last performed with the company in Wise Children at The Old Vic, London and on UK tour, and in Wuthering Heights at the Bristol Old Vic, National Theatre and on tour in the UK and America. Her other theatre credits include UBU Karaoke! and Rebecca with Kneehigh including at the Theatre Royal Bath in 2015; The Little Matchgirl and Other Happier Tales at Bristol Old Vic, Shakespeare’s Globe and on UK tour; Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe, and 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tipps for Kneehigh at Shakespeare’s Globe and on UK tour. Her screen credits include The Story of Tracy Beaker and the films Cyrano and Daddy’s Girl.

The role of Lucky is played by Robyn Sinclair, whose previous stage credits include The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in the West End and on tour; Amélie in the West End; The Enormous Crocodile at Leeds Playhouse; The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth at The Watermill Theatre; Wildfire Road at Sheffield Theatres; Mog for the Royal & Derngate and The Old Vic, London; The Wind in the Willows at New Vic Theatre; Mood Music at The Old Vic Theatre, London; The Snow Queen at Theatr Clwyd and Much Ado About Nothing for Oxford Shakespeare Company.

Tristan Sturrock plays the role of Blue Beard. A founding member of Kneehigh Theatre, he originated the roles of Alec in Brief Encounter and Tristan in Tristan & Yseult for Kneehigh, which he played in the West End, across the UK and in America and Australia. His many credits for Kneehigh also include Rebecca, Danger My Alley and The Young Man of Currie. He performed in A Matter of Life and Death and Salome for Kneehigh and the National Theatre. His theatre credits also include The Meaning of Zong for Bristol Old Vic at the Barbican; Spanish Tragedy and The Mysteries for the RSC, and King of Prussia for Kneehigh and the Donmar. He has worked extensively with Bristol Old Vic, playing leading roles in a host of productions including The Nutcracker, Cyrano, Messiah, Coram Boy, Peter Pan, Juliet and Her Romeo and Treasure Island. His television credits include Truelove, Poldark, Garrow’s Law, The Outlaws, Malpractice, Doc Martin, The Royal and Jamaica Inn. His film credits include Long Way Back, Christopher Robin and Saving Grace. Tristan’s one-man show Mayday Mayday has enjoyed successful seasons in Edinburgh and New York and visited the Ustinov Studio in 2012. He last performed at the Theatre Royal Bath in 2015 when he played Maxim de Winter in Rebecca.

Working alongside Writer and Director Emma Rice are Stu Barker (Composer), Vicki Mortimer (Set and Costume Designer), Simon Baker (Sound and Video Designer), Malcolm Rippeth (Lighting Designer), Etta Murfitt (Movement Director and Choreographer) and Ian Ross (Musical Supervisor and Arranger).

Emma Rice is the Artistic Director of her company, Wise Children. She recently adapted and directed the company’s The Little Matchgirl (and Other Happier Tales) at The Lucky Chance, Frome. Her other productions for Wise Children include Wuthering Heights on tour in the UK and America; Bagdad Cafe at The Old Vic, London; Angela Carter’s Wise Children at The Old Vic, London and on tour, and Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers at the Bristol Passenger Shed and on tour. As Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe from 2016 to 2018, she directed Romantics Anonymous, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Little Matchgirl (and Other Happier Tales). For the previous 20 years, she worked for Kneehigh as an actor, director and Artistic Director. In 2019 Rice received the UK Theatre Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre.

Stu Barker has previously worked with the company on Wise Children at London’s Old Vic. He worked extensively as composer and musical director with Kneehigh Theatre from 1999 to 2016 and his many credits include Brief Encounter on Broadway and in the West End; A Matter of Life and Death and Tristan & Yseult at the National Theatre; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe; Cymbeline, Don John and The Empress for RSC; Hansel and Gretel at Bristol Old Vic and The Grinning Man in the West End. Composer for Blue Beard, he also plays Sister Susie of the Dulcimer in the production.

Blue Beard appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Friday 2^nd to Saturday 10^th February. To book tickets call the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Photo credit: Steve Tanner