Enjoy all the fun of the fayre at the Canterbury Tales festival
July 8th, 2013
Bristol theatre company the Kelvin Players are offering a saucy mix of an outdoor performance combined with a medieval festival to bring Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales to life this summer.
Based on Phil Woods and Michael Bogdanovs script, Chaucer made modern, a selection of tales is given an innovative and contemporary twist. Its storytelling as Chaucer would have loved irreverent and interactive, and far-removed from the dry and academic version studied in schools.
The event not only promises quality theatre, fun and games, but is also supporting a great charity, Childrens Hospice South West.
This adaptation features Geoffrey Chaucer himself making guest appearances and the comedy that ensues from characters trying to bring him into the 21st Century.
Director Jacqs Graham said: The range of emotions and scenarios the tales cover is wide and varied. From the gentle love story of the Knights Tale to the bawdy humour of the Millers Tale, the comic but poignant moral dilemma faced in the Wife of Bath, to the antics and trickery driving the Reeves and Nuns Priests tales, theres something for everyone.
A few examples of the mix of techniques used to capture the tomfoolery you can expect to enjoy include an epic sword fight, use of puppetry, a horse and dancing chickens! she added.
As well as the main show, theres entertainment from jesters, jugglers, acrobats, Morris dancers, singers and musicians, plus games and market stalls to create a real ye olde worlde flavour.
A bar and refreshments will be available, but The Dairy Garden at Blaise setting is perfect for you to bring along your own picnic and have a bit of a do.
The poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales in around 1387 and the story of pilgrims exchanging tales is a cornerstone of English literature. Bringing it up to date for todays audience, however, is at the heart of Kelvins production.
A talented multi-role cast of 20 players act, dance, play music, sing, mime and romp through a truly lively production that shows theatre at its best, and brings Chaucer up close and personal to engage audiences of all ages.
The Canterbury Tales festival runs from Wednesday 10 July to Saturday 13 July at the Dairy Garden, Blaise Castle, Kings Weston Road, Bristol BS10 7QS.
Gates open from 6.30pm every evening for people to come along and enjoy the fayre, with the performance starting at 7.30pm and there is a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30 with gates open from 1.30. Tickets are £12 for adults and £8 for children under 16.
To book tickets please call 0117 9593636, email boxoffice@kelvinplayers.co.uk or visit www.kelvinplayers.co.uk.
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