Monday 16 January 2012
One Flew Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest: Award Winning Theatre Comes To Komedia Brighton
Komedia Brighton rarely throw their hat into the ring where theatre productions are involved, but in the case of Tanglehead Productions’ sell out Brighton Fringe Festival production of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ - a rightful exception has been made.
Having recently won the 2011 Brighton Fringe Festival Audience Award for their adaptation of Dale Wasserman’s play of the classic Ken Kesey novel – the company’s work proved to be a catalyst for the Komedia.
Marina Kobler, Artistic Director of the Komedia, said: “We haven’t been involved in theatre for over a year but this wonderfully realised version of the play, proved a spur for us, and it has been a pleasure to bring the show to the Komedia.”
The play skilfully, and often comically, uncovers the dehumanising affects of society’s labelling and incarceration of individuals in mental institutions.
Although an ensemble piece, the performance particularly focuses on the impact of Randle P McMurphy (Dodger Phillips) who, to escape prison, feigns madness and ends up in the Institute.
McMurphy, a freewheeling gambling man with a zest for women, brings vigour, life and chaos into the sterile, conformist environment of the mental institution.
In doing so, he starts to defy the implacable authority of the ‘Establishment’, embodied by Nurse Ratched (Sarah Barfoot).
A struggle that gradually restores to his fellow patients - but particularly ‘Chief’ Bromden (Gordon Winter) the ‘mute’ narrator of the drama - the dignity and voice they had long since given up.
“The work is funny, dramatic, tragic, but ultimately redemptive, and although written in the 1960’s the piece has a resonance for a 21st century audience. As we increasingly find ourselves in a society that has both become progressively atomised and seen a significant rise in mental illness”, said Rikki Tarascas, the Company Director.
“It is a fabulous piece of theatre that shines with humanity - being at once a challenge to, and reflective of, the wonderfully absurd and magnificent world we inhabit”
Set up in 2010 by Laurie Cannon, Rikki Tarascas and Sarah Barfoot, the Brighton based production company was brought to life with the intention of establishing Tanglehead as the South East’s premier theatre company through a combination of dynamic energy and experimental approach to live performance fusing music, theatre and film.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest @ Komedia Brighton until 22nd January - For more info visit komedia.co.uk/brighton
by: Mike Cobley
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