A new Leeds-based theatre company, Captain Mermaid Theatre Company ...

WHAT THE DICKENS? AN END-OF-THE-PIER SHOW WITH A DIFFERENCE

Captain Mermaid Theatre Company presents:

CAPTAIN MURDERER AND THE MORECAMBE MERMAID

UK TOUR FROM 29 MARCH –6 MAY 2012

Written and performed by John Barber and Lisa Howard

Director: Fiona Penney, Original Music and Video: John Newman-Holden, Lighting Designer: Marcus Rapley, Additional Dialogue: Charles Dickens
Puppets designed and made by John Barber

In the year of Dickens’ 200^th anniversary, Leeds-based theatre company Captain Mermaid present CAPTAIN MURDERER AND THE MORECAMBE MERMAID. Created and performed by Lisa Howard (Red Ladder’s BIG SOCIETY!) and John Barber, this two-man exploration of addiction, sexual exploitation, immigration and kiss-me-quick seaside cheekiness tells the story of a drunken end-of-the-pier show owner and his star attraction, ‘The Morecambe Mermaid.’

He’s trying desperately to tell his favourite story, a version of little-known Dickens short story, ‘Captain Murderer,’ about a dastardly captain who marries women before eating them in pies, but it’s not going well. His foul-mouthed daughter Tanya is more of a hindrance than a help and he could really do with a drink. All the mermaid wants is to get back to the sea, but he’s got something that she needs. Following their stories as they intertwine across Morecambe, from the beach to the fish monger, a hotel lounge to their washed-up end-of-the-pier show, this new production is a fast-moving parade of puppetry and masks, illusions, projections and original songs. 

A new Leeds-based theatre company, Captain Mermaid Theatre Company was founded by John Barber and Lisa Howard in 2010, following many years of previous collaborations.
The company is based in Chapel Town, Leeds and makes small-scale touring shows aimed at theatre and cabaret audiences. Captain Mermaid is driven by a desire to create intelligent funny populist theatre, and to promote theatre skills within the region, through delivery of integrated workshops in masks and puppetry and skills sharing.

John Barber gained his M.A. in Drama and Theatre Arts from Leeds University in 1983, then went on to found Open Hand Theatre Company, of which he was joint Artistic Director for 15 years. In his subsequent career as a freelance artist, he has worked as a performer, puppet designer and animation director in various regional theatres including, West Yorkshire Playhouse, York Theatre Royal, Library Theatre, Manchester, Bolton Octagon, Dundee Rep and many touring companies like Red Ladder, Hullabaloo, Kneehigh, Theatre Blah Blah Blah, as well as four years on the creative team of Green Ginger’s BAMBI – THE WILDNERNESS YEARS, devising, designing, building and performing internationally. He has taught puppet design at the ‘Institut International de la Marionette’ at Charleville-Mezieres. John is a Creative Associate of Hiccup Theatre.

Lisa Howard trained at East 15 Acting School between 1990 and 1993. As a professional actor, for over 17 years, she has worked in TV, Radio and Theatre. Her extensive and varied theatre experience includes dramatic, comic and musical roles with many Northern Reps and touring companies such as Hull Truck, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Northern Broadsides, York Theatre Royal, Oldham Coliseum, The Torch Theatre, Northampton Rep, and The Dukes. Lisa has just completed a successful run of Big Society with Phill Jupitus, Red Ladder and Chumbawamba at Leeds City Varieties. Some of this work has involved puppetry and an ongoing professional collaboration with John Barber. As a professional singer, she has performed solo, in bands and duos and in cabaret, nationally and abroad.

Tour Dates:

29th March, Square Chapel, Halifax. Box Office 01422 349422
squarechapel.co.uk
30th March, The Mart Theatre, Skipton. Box Office 01756 706460
themarttheatre.org.uk
31st March, York Theatre Royal. Box Office 01904 623568
yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
13th April, Leeds City Varieties. Box Office 0113 243 0808
cityvarieties.co.uk
16th and 17th April, Bikeshed Theatre, Exeter. 01392667080
bikeshedtheatre.co.uk
19th April, Plough Arts, Gt Torrington. 01805 624624
theploughartscentre.org.uk
21st April, Burrell Theatre, Truro. Box Office 01872 246038
burrelltheatre.com
23rd April, Artrix, Bromsgrove. Box Office 01527 577 330
artrix.co.uk
Riverhead Theatre, Louth. Box Office 01507 600 350
riverheadtheatre.co.uk
27th April, Otley Courthouse. Box Office 01943 467466
otleycourthouse.org.uk
6th May, Winter Gardens, Morecambe Variety Festival.
Box Office 07776 198332
skiddle.com

For details about the company please visit www.captainmermaid.co.uk