Still lots left to see!

Don't be saddened by the April showers, there's still lots going on at the Bradon Forest Theatre this season! Our first post-Easter show is It Could Be You, by the KS3 Drama Club on Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 May.

We also have the final Music Concert of the year, which will be celebrating all things sporting in their Olympic theme! You can book for Wednesday 30 May by emailing me or calling 01793 773981.

Tickets are already selling fast for Gonzo Moose and I'm An Aristocrat, Get Me Out Of Here! This wonderful show kick starts our Summer Arts Festival, which is already booking up fast! Make sure you check out our listings for full details and keep an eye on our Facebook page to be the first to hear about anything new.

The end of our two week Summer Arts Festival will mark the 2012 Swindon Does Arts Big Arts Day. The Bradon Forest Theatre will once again be supporting the event by running the Showcase Stage and Comedy & Theatre Tent.

Guest Review: Grimm and Grimmer

This morning I had the pleasure of opening an email from Mrs Duffell, parent to a very talented young man from Lydiard Millicent Primary School called Alex, who was so enamoured by the Gonzo Moose show that he wrote this excellent review:

On Thursday night Mummy took me to see Grimm and Grimmer at the Bradon Forest theatre. The play was performed by a theatre company called Gonzo Moose. Although there were only three actors there were over ten characters in the play.

The story was based on the fairytales written by the Grimm brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm. It starts when their sister, Lottie, discovers that they got all their stories from Rumplestiltskin in return for a human heart. They decide whose heart it will be by playing rock, paper, scissors. Wilhelm is the unlucky one so Rumplestiltskin places a clock on his heart. When the clock stops Wilhelm will die. Lottie wants to save her brother and travels to the fairytale kingdom in search of Rumplestiltskin. Along the way she meets some interesting characters including a mime prince and a bourbon eating bear. When she meets Rumplestiltskin he isn’t actually that scary and she kills him in a fight. She returns home with the key to her brother’s heart. Jacob then operates on Wilhelm winding the heart up and removing the clock. Wilhelm lost a lot of blood in the process. After the clock struck midnight he was still alive. Lottie went back to the fairytale kingdom and married the mime prince. They lived in a mime palace with their many mime children.

I really enjoyed it and would recommend Gonzo Moose to anyone. My favourite moment was when the wolf thought Lottie was Little Red Riding Hood and crept up behind her only to say “Sorry I thought you were someone else!” The special effects were fabulous with snow and very realistic blood! This play had it all: it was funny, scary and overall quite Grimm! I would rate this play 9/10!

Alex Duffell

As you can see, this was too good not to publish! Alex, we are so pleased you enjoyed the show and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Bradon Forest Theatre any time!

If you missed it, you missed out!

I've got to the stage where I don't like seeing trailers for shows and films. I love surprises, so turning up to watch something and have events unfurl in front of me without knowing what's coming is a real treat! That said, I'm in two minds whether to give you a full review of Grimm and Grimmer, The Misadventures of the Brothers Grimm, by Gonzo Moose because you really should go and see it!

This is the first show that the Gonzo's have developed specifically for families, and I think it may be my favourite show yet. Who doesn't want to see a bearded hunchback called Debbie, an adorable furry biscuit eating badger, gobbling Goblins and an elf hunting cowboy? If all that doesn't say Christmas then I don't know what does! Some friends of mine brought their 7 and 9 year old children who absolutely loved it. Never missing an opportunity for laughs, parents and children alike chuckled and giggled their way through the performance as the three actors pushed the story to the limit, using physical theatre, wonderful tricks and effects and as many visual gags as you could throw a plastic ear at. And there was even snow!

The climax of the show used a technique called 'psychic surgery', which Seamus assures me is an actual form of medicine practised in the Philippines. Without wanting to ruin the end, I will only say this.... it all looked VERY realistic and my friends son wouldn't let me tickle his belly after watching it!

Intrigued? Then all I can add it this, you need to go and see it. Seriously. If you see anything (outside of the Bradon Forest Theatre) this Christmas, then make sure it's Grimm and Grimmer. They have a nice long run at the Pegasus Theatre in Oxford, and as always with Gonzo Moose, I can't recommend them enough!

The Gonzo's return to The Bradon Forest Theatre on Saturday 30 June with 'I'm an Aristocrat, Get me out of here!' Tickets are on sale now.

Sold out you say?

Well that's it then! We've sold out already for Thursday's performance of Grimm and Grimmer, The Misadventures of the Brothers Grimm, by Gonzo Moose. If you're one of the lucky ones to have a ticket reserved, then come and collect it in advance or please arrive no later than 7.10pm on the night of the performance. Don't forget we also have refreshments in the form of mince pies and mulled wine (Christmas is coming!) so bring some change.

Right, see you on Thursday! I'm so excited!

You know it's going to be a good day when...

... you receive the copy and images for the new Gonzo Moose show!

Pegasus presents Gonzo Moose in…
GRIMM and GRIMMER
The Misadventures Of The Brothers Grimm

1806. It was cold. It was dark. It was almost certainly snowing…

Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and their beloved sister, Lotte travel into deepest Bavaria. They are assembling what will become the greatest collection of fairy tales ever published.

But now reality and fantasy are colliding and the family Grimm find themselves trapped in a twisted fantasy world of their own fairy tales.

Are the hapless heroes in grave danger? Yes.
From what? We can’t tell you.
Will they make it back alive? I hope so.

Having previously thrilled audiences with hit shows Is That A Bolt In Your Neck? and You Don’t Need To Know That!, Gonzo Moose are back with a comedy fairy tale adventure bursting with physical comedy, absurd jokes and magical illusion.

Featuring special guest appearances from Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Tom Thumb, Little Red Riding Hood and Rumplestiltskin…subject to their availability.

I'm so excited already! Make sure you have November 17th in your diaries!

Ooh... we're looking forward to November already!

Get Thursday 17th November 2011 in your diary... Gonzo Moose are coming back! We've booked them for their Christmas show and are just a little bit excited about it all. As you know, the Arts are being cut all over the place. We haven't yet been given our budget for the year, but don't want you to miss out on their Christmas show... so make sure you save this date and come and support us. Gonzo Moose are one of our very favourite companies and they never fail to entertain. Let's make this a sell-out!

The Gonzo Moose Winter Show (Working Title) 
A magical comedy adventure for the whole family

"We have yet to decide the title of the show or what the story will be but rest assured it will have all the trademark Gonzo Moose touches of silliness and madcap humour suitable for the whole family.

This wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy will feature three fearless and daring actors, playing over 20 roles in 75 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action. Packed full of hilarious slapstick, verbal wit, live music and magical illusion this show will have everything.

Suitable for audiences from ages 8 to 80, this is an ideal family show: packed full of hilarious slapstick, verbal wit, and magical illusion.

Over the past five years Gonzo Moose has toured all over the country to great critical acclaim and been compared to Peepolykus and Spymonkey. With irreverent humour and a vivid physical style the show is extremely accessible, visually inventive and very, very funny. "

 A Co-Production with the Pegasus Theatre, Oxford.

"Comedy guaranteed to make your belly hurt!"

That was a quote from one of the audience members after last nights show. They were trying to persuade Mark Conway from Gonzo Moose to add it to all their publicity for the tour! What an excellent show! We were very close to capacity last night and the audience were buzzing the whole evening. From the 'sincere' warning for those of certain dispositions at the start of the play - "if you suffer from incontinence, wear a nappy", we knew we were in for an evening of spookily comedic entertainment.

I think the last time I cried from laughing involved an 80's montage scene and a fake moustache... but Gonzo Moose effortlessly reel you in to the story and really bring their crazy characters to life. They have a way of instantly connecting with everyone in the audience and their obvious enjoyment of what's going on on stage emanates in to the stalls... it was almost as if we were all feeding off each other and it's hard not to enjoy yourself when 100 people around you clearly are!

The highlights for me were the gargoyles ("jump, jump!") and definitely the montage scene which, I've been told was a pastiche to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but reminded me of a scene from a Richard Curtis movie. I think it takes skill to show the passing of time that effortlessly on stage.

Due to popular demand, Gonzo Moose return to the Bradon Forest Theatre with 'Is That a Bolt in your Neck?' on Friday 30th April 2010. If you can't wait until then we have Angus back with his other company, Publick Transport and The Department of Smelling Pistakes on 2nd March.

I have to add that I'm hoping for the return of Professor Heartbreaker in his own show.... Cariad?

Is That A Bolt In Your Neck?

The Gonzo's are in the theatre setting up as we speak, and look how good the set looks!

Just a handful of tickets left now... call me on 01793 773981 or email me to reserve yours now... you won't regret it!

Gonzo Moose presents...

... 'Is That A Bolt In Your Neck?' Oh man, we just love this company! I'd book them in every week if I could! They never fail to amuse and I'm really looking forward to this show! Tickets are selling out fast so make sure you get in touch to reserve yours. If you can't make 7.30pm this Thursday, 15th October, then make sure you get 30th April in your diary... they'll be back!

Inspired by gothic horror movie classics of the 1930s, Is That A Bolt In Your Neck? is a fast-paced, rollicking ride mixing spooky paranoia, surreal nightmare and frantic farce. Suitable for audiences from ages 8 to 80, this is an ideal family show: packed full of hilarious slapstick, verbal wit, live music and magical illusion.

As lightening flashes across the sky, the rugged silhouette of an old dark house looms into view. Lost in a storm, this seems like the only possible refuge but what happens when you hear mysterious moaning in the middle of the night? Behind every door lurks unimaginable horror.

With comedy and thrills galore you'll gasp, laugh and be amazed at the horrific experiments, the mind-boggling love, and the sensational death-defying finale. This wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy horror features three fearless actors, playing over 30 roles in 75 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action.

Guest Review - Elliot Kinsey Watches Gonzo Moose

After a few technical hitches, here's a great review of Gonzo Moose by Yr10 student, Elliot Kinsey. After all, You Don't Need To Know That;

Where do I start?
Gonzo Moose's 'You Don't Need To Know That' was absolutely brilliant. The characters, the set and the entire story were funny, well thought out and hilarious. All in all this show was superb and with the help of Rondo Theatre, Gonxo Moose have produced another great slap-stick show. The show, a comedy of human survival in the face of absurdity, is all based around one man, Beresford Jones, who is having a very bad day indeed. He is arrested and not told why and throughout the story must negotiate with torture mad policemen, pop singing lawyers an crazy, over-zealous librarians. His aims are to win his freedom, avoid his death at the hands of the deadly guillotine and last, but not least, win the girl.

Where Do I Come In?
I first heard of Gonzo Moose in my earlier school years at Bradon Forest when I went to see 'I Am A Viking', another exceptionally funny show. When I was told about 'You Don't Need to Know That' I was told it would be one of the funniest plays I would ever see in my life. I couldn't take someone else's word for it, I had to see it for myself to see if it was as good as they said.

On the night of the 5th February, I grabbed my tickets, settled down into one of Bradon Forest Theatre's many comfy chairs and tried to relax as I began to gaze and laugh at the sheer madness commencing through the show. What a rib ache! I was in fits of tears quite literally all the way through and found myself on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what funny action was about to happen next. That was the great thing that made this play the best for me; it was all comedy, just what I like... is there anything more you need in life?

The actors in that production had made the show one of the best comedies I have ever seen in my life... no joke! I too was also included in the play (aren't I great?!); Beresford Jones interacted with me and many of the other audience members, even including them in the dialogue and making the fatal cut throat signs at them. This made the show even better because you could see everyone, including the actors, were really enjoying themselves.

The set was a load of filing cabinets and this helped the audience pick up what kind of space the characters were in, be it an office, court room or library. Along with the comedy, this is also another thing that helped the show 'click'. It helped me understand where all this was happening and I thought it was a very good idea how they made them act as doors as well as actual filing cabinets.

What They Liked About It!
The audience's response was rather much like my own; most people were red in the face, hot under the collar and all nearly died of laughter. I asked two people what they thought of it:

Comedy has never been done this way before, the facial impressions were brilliant! Sarah Jane

I loved how they got everyone involved during one scene when they had to improvise. What a great show! - Sam

And Finally...
Well I think that's enough from me, but don't just read this and think 'oh yeah, it sounds OK'... get out there and see it wherever it is being shown. It is seriously that good and is definitely worth the price of a ticket. Thank you so much to the actors that performed for us that night. You were fabulous and extremely funny. I can see now why you show was back at Bradon Forest by popular demand! Also, thank you to everyone who advised me to go and see the show, you were right! And last, but not least, Jenni... thank you so much for letting me do this review for you. It's the first I've done and hopefully there's more to come!

No, thank you Elliot! Great review and I'll hold you to that promise of more :o)

You Don't Need To Know That!

Aha! I'm back! Apologies for being a bit slack these last couple of weeks.... but you don't really need to know why! I will say that I promise to be a bit more vocal from now on.

OK, so back to the matter at hand... last night we had GONZO MOOSE in for 'You Don't Need To Know That'. Elliot Kinsey is on the case for the review and so I shall post it as soon as it's in. What I will say is that last night was amazing! Gonzo Moose managed to create a great rapport with the audience and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all. If you're heading up to Edinburgh during the summer holidays for the Fringe Festival, then make sure you check them out!

Back by Popular Demand...

Gonzo Moose presents You Don't Need To Know That!

An ordinary man who minds his own business awakes one morning to find a police inspector at the foot of his bed. Unaware of his crime, he is plunged into a shadowy world full of incompetent policemen, over zealou torturers, bemused judges, senile prison guards and lecherous inmates. You Don't Need To Know That... is the story of one man trying to prove his innocence in impossible circumstances. Will he triumph against petty bureaucracy, corrupt officials, treachery, danger and death?

Inspired by Kafka's The Trial, You Don't Need To Know That... is an exhilarating collision of comedy, drama, slapstick and puppetry. Gonzo Moose create a hilarious, ludicrous and disturbingly anarchic world where anything can happen and frequently does.

Tuesday 5th February
7.30pm
Tickets £6 adults, £5 students. Email me to reserve yours now!