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To the victor go...The Spoils
a new musical play by Steven Dykes and Paul Englishby
In 2007 Shady Dolls embarked on their second collaboration with Steven Dykes with what promised to be our most provocative show to date. The Spoils, a musical play commissioned by Shady Dolls, reunited Steven Dykes with his long term collaborator Paul Englishby - the acclaimed composer of the RSC’s recent hit musical The Merry Wives of Windsor. The Spoils took the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by storm in the summer of 2007, and the Dolls sought to secure funding to develop the piece further in 2009.
the show
“Men stand in the storm of the front ranks. Women do their duty quietly.”
ADOLF HITLER
A music-loving army official, assigned the menial task of interrogating the low ranking secretaries of a defeated regime, finds his youthful idealism sorely tested by women whose survival has been – and will be - determined by their willingness to compromise.
Join us for what promises to be a witty, provocative and downright creepy encounter between victim and victor...
"A chilling vision delivered in short sharp shocks." THE STAGE
"A strange dark tale meticulously directed, compellingly performed." BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
UPDATE: The Spoils - redux 2009
Following on from our experimental process on An Ornery Tale - where digital projection was integral to the play’s grotesque beauty - we are delighted to unveil our plans to not only reviveThe Spoils (first produced in Edinburgh Festival in 2007), but to further its development in a major Knowledge Transfer Research Project in partnership with Rose Bruford College and our long-time associates at NXT (New Cross Theatre) – all part of our ongoing exploration of the technological advances in theatre practice and ‘simultaneous performance’.
The first stage of this year-long project will be a series of special one-off performances of the play over the summer – this time with Paul Englishby’s wonderful music played live.
We have been invited to perform at a short European festival hosted by a fabulous new venue in the heart of Spain -the Sala El Granero (Granary Theatre) in Villanueva de la Jara,Cuenca.
This will prove an exciting prelude toThe Spoils(or El Botín– as our Spanish hosts would say) finally reaching London in September to participate in Arcola Opera’s “Grimeborn” Festival at the Arcola Theatre.
We also have a sneak preview for the curious among you at Rose Bruford on 24 July 2009.
And for those who cannot join us at any of these venues, we hope to have some exciting news about the ‘live streaming’ of these events very soon.
And, of course, we’ll keep you regularly updated over the next months on the progress of our most ambitious venture so far …
TICKETS for The Spoils on sale NOW!
Tickets for The Spoils at the Arcola Theatre are now available from the venue:
Grimeborn Festival 2009 presents The Spoils
Date: Thursday 3 September 2009
Time: 8pm
Venue: Arcola Theatre / 27 Arcola Street, London, E8 2DL
Tickets: £10
Box office: 020 7503 1646 / boxoffice@arcolatheatre.com
www.arcolatheatre.com
click HERE to purchase tickets