Emma Rice

Wise Children

Emma Rice

Sam Archer, Ankur Bahl

In Brixton, Nora and Dora Chance – twin chorus girls born and bred south of the river – are celebrating their 70th birthday. Over the river in Chelsea, their father and greatest actor of his generation, Melchior Hazard, turns 100 on the same day. As does his twin brother Peregrine. If, in fact, he’s still alive. And if, in truth, Melchior is their real father after all…

Twelfth Night: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Emma Rice

Cross-dressing, hijinks and bittersweet hilarity as Emma Rice directs Shakespeare’s timeless, soulful and irrepressible comedy. Synopsis Twins Sebastian and Viola are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, separated and believing each other to be dead. Beside herself with grief, Viola disguises herself as a boy and goes into the service of the Duke Orsino. The Duke, madly in love with the Countess Olivia, sends Viola to woo on his behalf... Olivia falls in love with the cross-dressed page while Viola falls deep and fast for Orsino. Meanwhile, mischievous servants play painful pranks at each other’s expense. Heady chaos ensues as griefs, loves and deep human confusions collide, but fear not! Sweet resolution wins the day as friends, twins and lovers are reunited.

Shakespeare's Globe: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Emma Rice

Ankur Bahl, Edmund Derrington

A recording of the final night of Emma Rice's transgressive and flamboyant production of Shakespeare's comedy at the Globe in London. Four runaway lovers find themselves smack bang in the middle of a dispute between the King and Queen of the fairies, and, as if that wasn’t enough, a troupe of amateur actors are trying to rehearse a play. Between these unlikely groups flies Puck, armed only with a wicked sense of humour and a love potion capable of making anyone fall for the first person they set eyes upon. What could possibly go wrong?

Oedipussy

Emma Rice

Aitor Basauri, Stephan Kreiss

In an attempt to escape their destiny in being all-too-widely recognised as the creators of some of the funniest, riotously surreal work of the last decade, Spymonkey turn their unique brand of inspired theatrical invention to the greatest of tragic tales in order to establish their legacy as the greatest tragic geniuses of their generation. Like Oedipus himself, however, they discover that eluding destiny is no mean feat. Spymonkey’s hilariously inspired physical comedy combines with the playful storytelling verve of Kneehigh artistic director Emma Rice and writing partner Carl Grose to create an outrageous no-holds-barred subversion of the quintessential Greek tragedy. Inspired by Barbarella and a little bit of Bond, this is a tale of the ultimate dysfunctional family: a jealous father, a messed-up son, and one mother of a brilliant comedy. Filmed at the Brighton Festival in 2012

Bagdad Cafe

Emma Rice

Sandra Marvin, Patrycja Kujawska

Smack bang in the middle of nowhere (or was it somewhere on the legendary Route 66?) two women are thrown together by chance. Stranded tourist Jasmin stumbles out of her unhappy marriage and finds herself at Brenda’s remote cafe and motel. Ordinarily, no one would choose to stay at the Bagdad Cafe but in the dust and isolation, unexpected and extraordinary friendships begin to blossom. The lost are found as individuals transform into an eclectic community bound by music, magic and some very strong coffee.

The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk

Emma Rice

Marc Antolin, Audrey Brisson

Partners in life and on canvas, Marc and Bella Chagall are immortalised as the picture of romance. But whilst on canvas they flew, in life, they walked through some of the most devastating times in history.