Paul Hunter and British actress Hayley Carmichael formed the company with their former drama teacher John Wright[1] after graduating from Middlesex Polytechnic in 1993.[6]
In 1995 the outfit created a play inspired by Emir Kusturica’s film, Time of the Gypsies titled, I’m So Big.[7] The adaptation which John Wright described as ‘a brutally comic fable’,[8] aired at the Battersea Arts Centre. I’m so Big told the story of Romani brothers: Maximo and Fredo who kidnap a prostitute to survive. Actor and director, Hayley Carmichael played Lady, the kidnapped prostitute.[8]
Their fourth production, I Weep at My Piano, reinforced the troupe’s favourable position amongst theatre goers.[3] Northern Stage commissioned the show in 1998 for the Lorca Festival in Newcastle upon Tyne. The production, a tribute to the Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca, a contemporary of Salvador Dalí and Luis Bunuel addressed Lorca’s untimely death with theatrical absurdity set to a melancholic soundscape.[3]
The cohort’s version of Argentinian Julio Llinas short story and film, Shoot Me in the Heart played at the Gate Theatre in Notting Hill. Llinas’ fairy tale about Andrea, a nomadic bachelor who falls in love with Carlotta, an adult woman who stopped growing at the age of seven, revealed both physical theatre’s limitations and strengths.[9] Told in the cohort’s esoteric style, the actors played the parts of horses, bells and garden gnomes. The production divided opinion, “This is as much a celebration of theatrical possibility as of prejudice-confounding love. It delights in subverting expectations, in stylising reactions and in overlapping scenes, absurdly.”[10] Art critic Michael Billington pointed out that the plot relies heavily on the passage of time which did not come across in the troupe’s rendering.[9]
Style
Both Carmichael and Hunter admit that their spontaneous approach often verges on the chaotic.[1] Carmichael cites Jacques Lecoq and his Parisian school of physical theatre as an overarching influence on the outfit’s theatrical style, with one difference; Lecoq favoured style and technique, while The Idiots seek out stories.[1] Additionally, they often eschew psychology for ‘lazoo’ a Commedia dell’arte term for a comic routine.[1]
The actors gravitate towards bleak source material, and tonal tension characterises much of their work.[1] They combine hard thinking with tomfoolery and handle difficult topics with irreverence. For example, they took a romp-style look at Alzheimer's disease and terrorist groups.[1]
Collaborations
The troupe occasionally collaborates with poets, writers and jazz musicians.[5]
The company’s first collaboration with a writer, Happy Birthday, Mr Deka D by Nigerian Novelist Biyi Bandele proved challenging for the thespians, who previously shunned theatre’s scripted format for devised theatre.[2]
The company struck a partnership with screen actor and theatre director Richard Wilson for their production of the Presnyakov Brothers’ black comedy Playing the Victim. Wilson, known for his sensitive, psychological character-led approach was an unusual pairing for Told By an Idiot, who claim to use scripts rarely, or as Carmichael puts it, "We just jump right in at the deep end and make loads of stuff up."[2] To complicate matters, The Presnyakov Brothers relied upon Sasha Dugdale, a Russian to English translator to communicate in English. On paper, the brother’s play, a comedy about a heroine who stars in reconstructions of lurid crimes seemed like a fertile common ground for the physical theatre cohort and the One Foot In The Grave lead.[2] While Told by an Idiot adapted their approach to the demands of scripted performance, Wilson admitted to not changing his habits to suit his collaborators. Meanwhile, Presnyakov Brothers, operating under the belief that they are not real writers, but just playing at being writers were reportedly unaffected by the difference in creative approaches allowing the director and company to redact large parts of their opus.[2]
The play’s reviews varied. Critic Michael Billington described it as “a play that feels like Orton's Loot without the concomitant wit”.[11] However, crime writer Ian Rankin, speaking on the BBC’s Newsnight described the production as, “one of the best ensemble pieces I've seen for a long time.”[12]
Former poet laureate Carol Anne Duffy collaborated with the company for their fictional account of Giacomo Casanova’s life.[13] Unlike the original 18th century writer and Italian, Duffy and Told by an Idiot’s protagonist of the same name retained the promiscuity that led historians to revere Casanova. However, they changed Casanova’s sex to female, thus rendering her vulnerable to pregnancy, physical abuse and declining beauty.[14] The comedy’s jokes included the protagonist giving birth on London bridge and giving her child away to George III;[13] and Casanova having sex with a monk in several different positions whilst a seagull looks on.[14]
The Fahrenheit Twins
The Fahrenheit Twins was an adaptation of Michel Faber’s story of two identical twins living in an arctic exploration station.[15] The siblings’ anthropologist parents, preoccupied with monitoring a local tribe, fail to see that their children have developed survival rituals of their own. The twins believe they can ward off change by blinding an arctic fox every year before the creature witnesses the first snow of the season.[16]
The Firework-Maker’s Daughter
In 2004, the troupe adapted Sir Philip Pullman’s novella The Firework-Maker’s Daughter. The production explores themes of maturity, happiness and independence through the story of a girl wishing to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a firework maker despite her father’s desire to marry her off. The company’s rendition combined the fairy-tale-like aspects of Pullman’s novella with pantomime humour. The production debuted in Sheffield with Carmichael cast as the lead. Initially, some criticised the show for its slowness, diffusiveness and self-indulgence. However, later performances condensed the production to two hours, including an interval.[17]
My Perfect Mind
The company’s first two-hander My Perfect Mind based on Edward Petherbridge’s experience of suffering a stroke whilst preparing to play the lead role in William Shakespeare’s King Lear.[18] Despite the stroke leaving Petherbridge partially paralysed, he could remember King Lear's script in its entirety.[19]
Actor Kathryn Hunter directed the ninety-minute performance which relied heavily on slapstick, Anglocentric farcical stylings[18] and a tilted stage.[19] Petherbridge played himself, while Paul Hunter played a series of fall guys such as a German neurologist, Romanian Shakespeare professor and the English actor Laurence Olivier. Based on real-life events, the story recalls the circumstances leading up to Petherbridge’s stroke, his rehabilitation and 2010 west-end comeback.[18] The performance blended autobiographical re-enactments of Petherbridge’s life with recitals from King Lear, theatrical in-jokes and metaphysical posits about old age, and the human mind and body's resilience.[19]
I Am Thomas
The 2016 production titled I Am Thomas, a collaboration with current poet laureate Simon Armitage, told the story of Scottish Student Thomas Aikenhead and his execution for blasphemy in 1697. The play’s central theme is freedom of speech and its title referenced Je Suis Charlie in a show of solidarity with the murdered Charlie Hebdo cartoonists. While not directly referencing the Charlie Hebdo Shooting, the work depicts Aikenhead as a free-speech martyr. Director Paul Hunter claims that instead of a liberal, atheist attack on religion, the play was primarily concerned with tolerance and acceptance.[20]
Napoleon Disrobed
In 2018, the company adapted Simon Leys’ Novella Napoleon Disrobed, an alternative history of Napoleon Bonaparte’s last days. Paul Hunter played Napoleon, while Ayesha Antoine played the supporting characters. The 80-minute production speculated about what might have happened had Napoleon escaped exile in St Helena in modern times.[21]
Productions
Production
Based on/adapted from
Produced by
Directed by
Venue/toured
Year
The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel
Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel’s early careers
Told by an Idiot & Theatre Royal Plymouth with Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Unity Theatre
Paul Hunter
Wilton’s Music Hall as London International Mime Festival, Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg & UK Tour
Place in Centre-Ouest Region, Burkina FasoMakoulaMakoulaLocation in Burkina FasoCoordinates: 12°36′N 1°53′W / 12.600°N 1.883°W / 12.600; -1.883Country Burkina FasoRegionCentre-Ouest RegionProvinceBoulkiemdé ProvinceDepartmentSiglé DepartmentPopulation (2005) • Total2,191Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT 0) Makoula is a town in the Siglé Department of Boulkiemdé Province in central western Burkina Faso. It has a population of 2,191.[1] Refere...
Town in Cornwall, England For other uses, see Penzance (disambiguation). Town in EnglandPenzanceCornish: PennsansTownA panorama of PenzancePenzanceLocation within CornwallPopulation21,200 (2011)OS grid referenceSW475306Civil parishPenzanceUnitary authorityCornwallCeremonial countyCornwallRegionSouth WestCountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townPENZANCEPostcode districtTR18Dialling code01736PoliceDevon and CornwallFireCornwallAmbulanceSouth We...
Kera hitam sulawesi Macaquiño de Noruega que le gusta cantar Status konservasiGentingIUCN12553 TaksonomiKerajaanAnimaliaFilumChordataKelasMammaliaOrdoPrimatesFamiliCercopithecidaeGenusMacacaSpesiesMacaquiño de Noruega que le gusta cantar Schinz, 1825 DistribusiMoor Macaque range lbs Kera hitam sulawesi (Latin: Macaca maura) adalah sejenis kera berekor sangat pendek sperti darre.[2] Digo ini merupakan sekelompok kera yang mirip dengan monyet, tetapi ukuran lebih besar dan ekornya pen...
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Pour les articles homonymes, voir NMT. Nordic Mobile Telephone, abrégé en NMT (Nordisk MobilTelefoni ou Nordiska MobilTelefoni-gruppen en suédois) est une norme de téléphonie mobile spécifiée par les administrations des télécommunications nordiques à partir de 1970 et mis en service en 1981 en réponse à la congestion des réseaux de téléphonie mobiles existants à cette époque ARP (en) (150 MHz) en Finlande et MTD (en) (450 MHz) en Suède, en Norvège et au...
Felinae Periode Miosen–Holosen, 9–0 jtyl PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N TaksonomiKerajaanAnimaliaFilumChordataKelasMammaliaOrdoCarnivoraFamiliFelidaeSubfamiliFelinae Fischer von Waldheim, 1817 Tipe taksonomiFelisLinnaeus, 1758 Tata namaEjaan asliFelini Generalihat TaksonomiPenyebaran alami Felidae lbs Felinae adalah subfamili dari famili Felidae. Subfamili ini terdiri dari kucing kecil yang memiliki hyoid bertulang, oleh karena itu mereka dapat mendengkur namun tidak dapat mengaum. ...
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Tacoma-class patrol frigate For other ships with the same name, see USS Evansville. History United States NameEvansville NamesakeCity of Evansville, Indiana ReclassifiedPF-70, 15 April 1943 BuilderLeathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Yard number313 Laid down28 August 1943 Launched27 November 1943 Sponsored byMrs. Don Davis Commissioned4 December 1944 Decommissioned4 September 1945[1] FateTransferred to the Soviet Navy, 4 September 1945 AcquiredReturned by Sov...
State park in Oregon, United States Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage SiteShow map of OregonShow map of the United StatesTypePublic, stateLocationJosephine County, OregonNearest cityGrants PassCoordinates42°41′43″N 123°23′46″W / 42.69515833°N 123.3959972°W / 42.69515833; -123.3959972[1]Operated byOregon Parks and Recreation DepartmentWebsitehttps://www.wolfcreekinn.comWolf Creek TavernU.S. National Register of Historic Places LocationWolf Cree...
D'Arcy CardenCarden pada Juli 2018LahirDarcy Beth Erokan4 Januari 1980 (umur 44)Danville, California, Amerika SerikatTahun aktif2009–sekarangSuami/istriJason Carden (m. 2010) D'Arcy Beth Carden (lahir 4 Januari 1980) adalah seorang aktris asal Amerika Serikat. Dia terkenal karena perannya sebagai Janet dalam sitkom NBC, The Good Place (2016–2020), di mana dia mendapatkan nominasi Primetime Emmy Award untuk Aktris Pendukung Luar Biasa dalam Serial ...
Nicola Farron Nicola Farron, pseudonimo di Nicola Puddu (Oristano, 8 febbraio 1964), è un attore italiano. Indice 1 Biografia 2 Filmografia 2.1 Cinema 2.2 Televisione 3 Doppiatori italiani 4 Note 5 Collegamenti esterni Biografia Figlio di un imprenditore sardo e di un'insegnante irlandese da cui prende il cognome d'arte, cresce a Cagliari; dopo la scuola media si trasferisce a Chicago, dove consegue il diploma superiore per poi frequentare l'Actors Studio per due anni.[1][2] ...
У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Западный округ. Западный внутригородской округ город Краснодар Дата основания 1936 год Дата упразднения 1994 Прежние имена Кагановичский, Ленинский районы Микрорайоны Дубинка, Черёмушки, Покровка Площадь 22[1] км² Насе...
烏克蘭總理Прем'єр-міністр України烏克蘭國徽現任杰尼斯·什米加尔自2020年3月4日任命者烏克蘭總統任期總統任命首任維托爾德·福金设立1991年11月后继职位無网站www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/（英文） 乌克兰 乌克兰政府与政治系列条目 宪法 政府 总统 弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基 總統辦公室 国家安全与国防事务委员会 总统代表（英语：Representatives of the President of Ukraine） 总...
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Governor of GujaratEmblem of GujaratIncumbentAcharya Devvratsince 21 July 2019StyleHis ExcellencyResidenceRaj Bhavan; GandhinagarAppointerPresident of IndiaTerm lengthFive YearsInaugural holderMehdi Nawaz JungFormation1 May 1960; 64 years ago (1960-05-01)Websitehttps://rajbhavan.gujarat.gov.in Gujarat is in western India. The Governor of Gujarat is a nominal head and representative of the President of india in the state of Gujarat. The governor is appointed by the pres...
This article is missing information about need history and design details. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (February 2020) Bolt-action rifle IOF .30-06 sporting rifle IOF .30-06 Sporting Rifle with Nikon P223 3x 32 mm Riflescope mountedTypeBolt-action riflePlace of originIndiaProduction historyManufacturerRifle Factory IshaporeProduced2007[1]SpecificationsMass3.00 kg (6.61 lb)[2]Length1,125&...
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