5 – 9 August
Riddlestick Theatre return to their favourite Bristol venue with a hilarious mash-up of folk song, dance and storytelling, drawing on traditional forms like the Morris Dance and Mummers plays but pumping it with ‘Wicker Man’ noire to present a story that touches on the existential threats of climate change and development, while celebrating the heartbeat of a local community.
The Barleycorn Inn in the fictional village of Hopley Drew is the setting for the evening, indicated merely by a few hand-painted cardboard signs. But what Riddlestick might lack in production finesse is more than made up for by an unstoppable sense of energy and self-belief. This troupe have been together for nearly 10 years since graduating from Bristol Uni, and there is a very positive chemistry between the five players/musicians which is infectious.
From the off, the audience, armed with song sheets, is led straight into ‘Country Life’ a ditty extolling the virtues of birds singing and ‘rambling in the new mown hay’. Within the first minute we’re engaged and awake! Led by co-writers and directors Kate Stokes and Thomas Manson we are drawn into feeling very much a part of an eccentric, bucolic world in which fable and fantasy float together in some altered reality, stirred further by guitar, cello and recorder playing.
Riddlestick’s story centres on the legend of John Barleycorn, after whom the pub is named. Barleycorn, it seems, haunts the locals’ imagination. Was it Barleycorn that created the beer that flows out of the bar’s taps? Who were the Three Men from the West who wanted an end to him? And did Barleycorn make a curse that would descend upon them all, especially now that the pub and all its links to his history are threatened by nasty developer Peter Punch? ‘A great inspiration for us was our love for pubs and beer. The show celebrates the importance of coming together to have a drink. The ongoing struggles of our pubs doesn’t get spoken about enough. As Hilaire Belloc said, “When you have lost your inns, drown your sorrows, for you will have lost the last of England.” ’
Performer Alison Cowling plays the mythical Barleycorn, bravely thundering off to rescue his friends locked in a hay barn (more cardboard signs) astride a hobby horse, before things take a dark turn for the absolute worst (lots of red bits). George Meredith plays Irn-Bru Stu, the lost Scot in the community and later the dastardly Three Men from the West in pursuit (adorned with more cardboard to witty effect). Ashley Scott fizzes as the most vocal local while Sophie Jackson’s cello always provided atmosphere. Yes, there’s some deliberately hammy acting to squeeze the max out of the silliness here, but there is also some clever physical theatre woven into the mix – a river made from kitchen roll is one such magical moment, while the songs and the dancing are always fun to listen to and watch.
The audience is never allowed to forget it is part of the proceedings. Corny jokes are solicited from the cast, a turnip competition has to be judged and a raffle wins a beer – all met with hearty cheers.
Barleycorn ticks all the boxes for those who enjoy their entertainment with a ‘hand-made’ approach to theatre making. With this enjoyable show Riddlestick will blow away any cobwebs you have in your head.
★★★★☆ Simon Bishop, 6 August 2025
Photography credit: Jake McKeown
