Performing Arts students embark on a dark and twisted tale for Degree Show project

Performing Arts student group Theatre31 will be presenting their debut performance of the controversial, gothic fairytale, ‘The Pitchfork Disney’, as part of Spectrum 2012 during May.

Spectrum 2012 is Coventry University’s annual festival that celebrates the huge diversity of imagination and talent of its final year students. Forming part of the undergraduates’ Degree Show 2012, which exhibits the original work of the UK’s next generation of creative talent.

Twenty-one years on from its original premiere in London, this dark and edgy play centres on a brother and sister who live alone in a flat and are addicted to chocolate. Isolated from the real world, they have created their own childish twisted fantasy to exist in until one day their lives are interrupted when two strange men show up.

‘The Pitchfork Disney’ was Philip Ridley’s first adult stage play and one of the earliest plays to come out of the ‘in-yer-face’ movement of the 1990s alongside the works of others including Sarah Kane. It primarily deals with fear, particularly childhood fears. Dreams and stories are also explored, and indeed, the entire play can be interpreted as a dream in itself.

David Steggles from Theatre31, said:

We chose this play as it is both edgy and entertaining, if sometimes horrifying, and we really hope the audience will love that. We hope to offer them an experience as well as a show, drawing on the knowledge we have all gained while studying at Coventry University.

Theatre31 are a newly formed company based in the city who previously collaborated together as part of TAPP theatre. They will be continuing to work with TAPP in the summer as they take their show ‘Aloclasp’ to the mac in Birmingham.

The production will be taking place A E Harris, 110 Northwood Street, Birmingham, from 16-19th May 2012 (£6/£4 for concessions) - click here for directions.

Note
The show is not suitable for anyone under the age of 16.