Don John
Kneehigh Theatre in association
with The Royal Shakespeare Company and Bristol Old Vic
Don John’s latest conquest is at The Lowry…..
Adapted and directed by Emma Rice
The Lowry, Tue 3 – Sat 7 March 2009
Press night: Tue 3 March, 8pm
Kneehigh, one of Britain’s most innovative theatre companies bring their renowned brand of physical and visually stunning storytelling to the seductive tale of the dangerous and irresistible Don John whose claim to fame is that he has slept with over 2,000 women. Set in 1970s England during the winter of discontent, the production is a radical re-working of Don Giovanni, Casanova and Don Juan.
Emma Rice, Artistic Director, creates a powerful atmosphere with specially commissioned live music, drawing on the influences of Northern soul and punk with a hint of Mozart.
Emma Rice explains: ‘I really wanted to put the production in a world that is relevant to us and that we can almost reach out and touch. I also knew I wanted it to be very English. It’s a fantastic decade to set it in because the music is really split between quite sentimental stuff (Three Times a Lady was in the chart that year) and soul music – all about love and romance – next to punk which was all about resistance and anger. It was a really interesting time politically too – the year before Thatcher was voted in.’
Cornwall-based Kneehigh Theatre are renowned for their distinctive physical, musical and visually arresting style. Don John follows a year of stunning success from the company with productions touring to the US, Brazil and Columbia. Their version of Brief Encounter has also recently enjoyed an extended run in the West End and will be at The Lowry in March (Tue 24 – Sat 28).
The Lowry Centre Trust is a not-for-profit charitable organisation and registered charity (no. 1053962). All income supports our world-class Theatres and Galleries programmes, the care and display of the LS Lowry Collection and our life-changing Community and Education work.
Posted on Wednesday, 04 February 2009 under Press Theatre Press