Self-funded
Nottingham-based theatre company takes audience participation one
step further - they use their living rooms to host the productions.
Mark Whitely and Daniel Hoffman-Gill are presently touring the living
rooms of Britain with a half-hour show all in the name of charity.
The plot
An old man is found dead in his home by two unfortunate burglars and
chalk outlines are discovered in the area.
That's the
plot for the touring play Thick as Thieves, which will put your
living room centre stage with the Hard Graft Theatre company.
The play tells
the story of two inexperienced thieves whose discovery of a murdered
budgie is just the beginning of a disturbing night's work.
Scripted
success
But it's the cleverness of the script and its delivery dragging
you straight into this experience as if it were your own house being
burgled.
This half-hour
play represents condensed theatrics at their best, with the comical,
philosophical thieves Barry and Steph in a brilliant double act
which wouldn't look out of place on Friday night TV.
Mark Whitely
and Daniel Hoffman-Gill (Barry and Steph) have already enjoyed on-screen
success, with film and TV performances ranging from 'Playing the
Field' to 'Long Time Dead'. Here they perform for charity at their
own expense.
Travelling
showmen
The group perform when and where they are asked to by visitors to
their website, and fund their expeditions from their own pockets,
so far they have travelled 1000 miles.
And it's not just
living rooms they visit. The Nottingham-based company will be performing
in venues all over Britain.
Theatrical
revolution
Thick as thieves is a refreshingly simple, involving and entertaining
play driven by an innovative concept.
The Thick as
Thieves tour can be summed up by "If you always do what you
always did, you'll always get what you always got."
Wise words for
us all.
Interview
with Weird Doug's
Mark Whitely:
|
How did you come up with the idea of living room Theatre?
The truth is, that I wanted to give my girlfriend a birthday
present to remember, so I came up with the idea of doing a play
for her and our friends at a party in our house. |
You're
funding the trips from your own pocket, how can you afford to
do this?
I can't afford it and have to start asking people for money
now. I wish I could give it away forever, but needs must when
the big bad wolf is knocking at the door. |
Do
you think you're bringing theatre to the masses, or is it just
for the publicity?
Yes and yes. I know that people are interested in the story,
but if it gets my theatre to them quicker then so be it. |
How
well received has it been across the country?
I couldn't have imagined a better response. The public are interested
in entertainment and I believe we're giving it to them. I
have a comments and contacts book full of praise for what we're
doing, I couldn't be happier. |
What
do you want 'Thick as Thieves' to lead to?
I'd like to think that other people would pick up on it
and do it for themselves for their friends, but living in the
real world I'll probably sell the rights and it'll end up on
stage staring Jim Davidson and a fat bloke that used to be in
Emmerdale farm in the 1980s! |
What
were you doing before you went off around the country?
I was in Vienna making a commercial to flog an Austrian bread
called "Ulz". |
What
is your own personal ambition?
To earn enough money to create whatever takes my fancy, and
to be in love with life forever. |
When
you're touring how much do you miss Nottingham?
I love Nottingham, it's a friendly, ambitious, talented city
that sits well in the middle of everything. They could make
train fares to London cheaper though! |
Do
you think the Nottingham Playhouse and the Theatre Royal produce
strong, ambitious theatre?
I can't really speak for the Royal as I don't use it that often,
but the Playhouse goes in cycles. At the moment I believe it
to be almost at the top of it's game. the staff are second to
none and the artistic choices are brave and thought provoking
(it sounds like I work for them!). |
The Hard Graft
Theatre company will shortly be returning to a venue in Nottingham.
Visit the weirddoug.com website
to follow their tour, and find out how you can get involved in the
theatrical revolution.
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not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. |
