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Haste Theatre’s
Oyster Boy
Tour Pack 2016
Production 1-2
Press 3
Company 4
Cast and Production 5-6
Tech Spec 7, 7a
Workshops/Education 8-9
Contact 10
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The Production
“Oyster Boy is a gentle, intimate gem awash in play-
ful whimsy, seasoned with a splash of acidic dark-
ness.”
- Orlando weekly
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“A tale of young lovers, of happiness and strife, of
one extraordinary boy, and his extraordinary life…”
The multi award-winning OYSTER BOY is a dark comedy
which tells the story of Italian ice cream seller Jim and
young Alice, who fall in love strolling along the beach in a
1950’s whirl wind romance. Their lives are turned upside
down by the arrival of their first son, Sam, born with an
oyster shell shaped head. The young parents struggle to
raise their extraordinary son. Based on the title story of
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim burton, this
is a bittersweet tale of the trials of love and what it means
to be ‘Other’. Within a vivid yet surreal world, OYSTER
BOY reminds us of the delicacy of life and introduces us
to a range of larger-than-life characters who are sure to
entertain and delight audiences of all ages. Drawing on a
range of theatrical and filmic influences, this multi-lingual
production is told through a rich blend of physical story-
telling, clown, live choral singing, dance and puppetry.
“Sam is imbued with a persona so clearly that we feel
a genuine pang of sadness for the way he is treated.”
- Views From the Gods
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Oyster Boy
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Oyster Boy Press
“...visually striking and beautiful”
- Female Arts
“There’s a touch of magic here”
- Views From The God’s
Best International Show - Orlando Fringe Festival 2014
Best Kids Fringe Show - Orlando Fringe Festival 2014
Spirit of the Fringe - San Diego Fringe Festival 2013
Critic’s Choice for Creativity - Roma Fringe Festival 2013
“Best of the Fest” - Orlando
Weekly
“The piece is a rare combination:
it’s at once a delight and also
very sad”
- San Diego Reader
“This is a must-see Fringe Show”
- Watermark
“Their work is clever; hand-
made; lo-fi and, tumbling out of
their wicker baskets…”
- Fringe Review
For full reviews please visit: http://hastetheatre.com/press/
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Haste Theatre
The Company
Haste Theatre is an international, all-female ensemble
co-founded in 2013. The company seek to create fun,
thought provoking and visually impressive theatre, through
simple means. As an international company they endeavour
to create work that is accessible to international audiences.
The company has since produced and toured work in the
U.K, U.S.A, Italy and Scotland.
“These six women are passionate about what they do, blending
humour and energy with beautiful harmonies and touching story-
telling” - Mick Barnfather, Complicite
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The Cast
Elly Beaman-Brinklow - Dr Plumcock, Chorus, Puppeteer
Valeria Compagnoni - Jim Gelati, Puppeteer
Elena Costanzi - Polly, Chorus, Puppeteer
Jesse Dupré - Molly, Chorus, Puppeteer
Jenny Novitzky - Alice
Sophie Taylor - Anthony, Chorus, Puppeteer, Ukulele
“Common experiences are transformed into surreal happenings
by this energetic troupe of performers …” - Fringe Review
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Paul Stowe - Lighting Design
Paul has been working with Haste Theatre since their inception in
2013. He has worked with them on two tours of the USA with both
award winning shows ‘Oyster Boy’ and ‘The Hideout’.
He freelances regularly on the fringe scene most notably winning
the 2009 Fringe report award for ‘Best all Involved Production’ with
‘Yard Gal’ directed by Steph O’Driscoll. Last summer Paul toured
the US with Royal Kung Foolery’s debut show ‘Cocooned in Kazan’
winning awards for ‘Spirit of the Fringe’, ‘Highest Selling Show in
Venue’ and the ‘Volunteers Pick of the Fringe’ at the Chicago
Fringe Festival. Aside from his work on the fringe scene, Paul has
worked for 9 years as a full time technician and designer at St
Mary’s University in Twickenham as well as lecturing in the basics
of technical theatre.
Production
Creative Production by Haste Theatre
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Technical Specs
Ideal
LX
Warm wash
Cold wash
SFX
Sound system with 3.5mm
jack input (near lighting desk)
Stage
Any end on seating with visible
stage floor
6(m) x 6(m)
Get In/Out
30 mins on either side
2 hour technical rehearsal
60 mins running time
Minimum
LX
See lighting plan page
7a
SFX
Sound system with 3.5mm
jack input (near lighting desk)
Stage
Any end on seating with visible
stage floor
4(m) x 4(m)
Get In/Out
10 mins on either side
1 hour technical rehearsal
50 mins running time
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Workshops/Education
The workshop was incredibly valuable and the groups visible
enjoyment was indicative of this.” - Victoria Meagre
(Head of Performing Arts at City & Islington College)
“Really fun and helpful. Please come back!”- Student / Participant
( Sir George Monoux College)
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Haste Theatre offer workshops in conjunction with Oyster Boy in
theatre’s, schools, colleagues, Universities and community
groups.
These workshops bring skills and techniques straight from the re-
hearsal room and share key exercises that are at the centre of
the company’s devising method.
Workshops focus on (but are
not limited to):
Approaching a devised
task
Physical characterisation
Use of play in devising
and performance
Ensemble work
Adaptation from text
Clown
For more details on the workshops on offer please visit:
http://hastetheatre.com/creative-engagement/
For workshop enquiries please contact: hastetheatre@gmail.com
And most of all to have fun and build confidence in the participants.
They can be tailored to suit specific needs on request.
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Contact
www.hastetheatre.com
@Hastetheatre
Hastetheatre
Oyster Boy will be touring regional UK and Irish venues: February - April
2017.
Contact Lucy Thompson by email at:
hastetourbooker@gmail.com or by telephone on 0788155827 to discuss
bookings.
For Marketing, technical and workshop enquiries please contact
hastetheatre@gmail.com
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