Co-produced with Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Royal Plymouth, Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror is a spectacular story of love and resistance set in a travelling circus and arriving at The Lowry Theatre in Salford, Manchester this April.
Presented by Extraordinary Bodies, Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror is a daring tale of humanity based on an original idea by Hattie Naylor and co-written by Hattie Naylor and Jamie Beddard with an original score by Charles Hazlewood.
Set in 1933 Germany, where fascist whispers have grown to shouts, Waldo and his eclectic troupe of acrobats and clowns dedicate themselves to their craft. Concealed within the glamour of Waldo’s big top, stories of love, courage and resistance are revealed as the world outside this remarkable circus troupe becomes darker and more dangerous. The story is informed by historical research and the experiences of real performers. The star of Waldo’s Circus is ‘Krista’ played by Abbie Purvis with Dominic Owen as ‘Gerhard’.
Cast
Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror is a large scale collaboration between D/deaf, disabled, and non-disabled artists and creators and tours nationally in 2023.
Waldo – Ring-Master played by Garry Robson
Krista – Star of the circus, played by Abbie Purvis
Gerhard – twin to Margot, played by Lawrence Swaddle
Dr Margot Kruger – (Doubles as QUEENIE), first-born twin, played by Mirabelle Gremaud
Peter Günter – Ring Boy played by Tilly Lee-Kronick
Mish – Clown, doubles as OTTO played by Raphaella Julien
Mosh – Clown, doubles as KURT played by Brooklyn Melvin
Dora – Cleaner and circus performer, played by JoAnne Haines
Joseph Benowitz – Owner of a rival circus played by Jack Reitman
Renee – Experienced aerialist of the circus troupe, played by Jonny Leitch
Darragh Finnegan (doubles as Wilhelm) Master at manipulating hats and ladders, played by Ryan Murphy
Queenie – clairvoyant, and acrobat. (Doubles with Margot) played by Mirabelle Gremaud
VIP – played by Max Marchewicz show interpreter
With a live band of three musicians
How much are the tickets?
Tickets are priced from £13 to £22.
How do I book tickets to watch Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror?
To book tickets please call The Lowry at 08432086000 or via their website here. Recommended guidance age is 12+.
Access: BSL is embedded into the show which has live BSL interpretation and captioning projected above the stage. Audio Description is pre-recorded and played through headsets. Access tours (15 minutes) are available before the show. All performances are chilled.
How long is the show for and what are the timings?
The show will be heading to The Lowry Salford Quays from Thu, 20 April until Sat, 22 April 2023. The show has a running time of 120 minutes.
Where will the performance be held?
The Lowry
The Lyric Theatre
Pier 8
The Quays
Salford
M50 3AZ
Manchester
Tel: 0843208 6000
Notes:
- The Lowry welcomes all visitors regardless of their disability and strives to meet all individuals needs where possible.
- They welcome assistance dogs.
- The Lowry website is fully accessible and features BrowseAloud. Browsealoud adds speech, reading and translation support, facilitating access and participation for those people who need support reading print, dyslexia, low literacy, mild visual impairments and those with English as a second language. To use this feature, simply click on the grey ear logo located in the footer.
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If you are driving to the show, we would recommend for you to park at The Lowry Outlet which is opposite the theatre, but be aware as there is lack of signage from the car park area to the theatre, so best to ask someone or use google maps to find your way.Pre paid car parking tickets can be purchased up to 24 hours prior to your performance. Please note they are unable to sell pre paid tickets on your performance date, and you will need to pay at the ticket machines in the car park. The tickets can be booked at the same time as your seats via their website, or over the phone on freephone 0343 208 6000. The cost is £6.50. This allows you to park for the day.
About The Lowry Theatre
The Lowry is a registered charity committed to using visual and performing arts to enrich people’s lives. They present audiences with a diverse programme of theatre, opera, musicals, dance, music, comedy and visual art as well as events and activities to expand the horizons of audiences and artists alike. At the heart of their work is a commitment to the local communities and young people. Tapping into the work on their ur stages and in their galleries, they offer thousands of free creative participation opportunities each year. They are passionate about nurturing talent, developing creative professionals of the future and raising aspirations.
About Extraordinary Bodies
Extraordinary Bodies create powerful performances that celebrate our vast potential as humans. Exploring a vibrant mix of circus, dance, theatre, and music, the eclectic company tells meaningful stories that question the value of our bodies and give a voice to those who are often silenced.
Extraordinary Bodies is a vital collaboration between show-makers, Cirque Bijou, and Diverse City, a charity that champions diversity and equity in the performing arts. Together, they create a unique and magical space where diverse bodies are embraced, boundaries are broken, and inclusivity is championed. Combining the skill and talent of D/deaf, disabled, and non-disabled artists, the company’s work is testament to how diverse, extraordinary people can work equally together on and off stage.
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists is the company’s flagship performing arts training company for disabled and non-disabled 16 to 30 year olds. On a mission to empower the next generation of performers, they make experimental and thought-provoking work which is performed across the UK.
Powered by passion and purpose, Extraordinary Bodies rely on the support of public funding, charitable giving* and trusts, and foundations. Every show is made possible by people who share their belief in inspiring a fairer and more inclusive world.
About Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously running theatre in the UK, and celebrated its 250th birthday in 2016. The historic playhouse aims to inspire audiences with its own original productions, both at home and on tour, whilst nurturing the next generation of artists, whether that be through their 350-strong Young Company, their many outreach and education projects or their trailblazing artist development programme, Bristol Ferment. In 2018, Bristol Old Vic completed its two-year redevelopment project, transforming its front of house into a warm and welcoming public building for all of Bristol to enjoy, creating a new Studio theatre and opening up its unique theatrical heritage for the first time.
Since 2020, Bristol Old Vic has been sharing its shows in new ways: Live Broadcast from the Georgian auditorium to tens of thousands and made available On Demand; sharing live interactive theatre events and Q&As, and bringing some of the biggest shows to TV. This has led to the launch of Bristol Old Vic On Screen – unforgettable performances filmed in its 256 year-old theatre, broadcast live to you wherever you are in the world.
About Theatre Royal Plymouth
Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) is a registered charity providing art, education and community engagement in Plymouth and across the region. It engages and inspires with the aim of touching lives. Theatre Royal Plymouth presents a year-round programme of world class productions on all scales as the South West’s principal centre for performing arts.
Theatre Royal Plymouth works with partners to understand the challenges people face accessing the arts, especially vulnerable and disadvantaged people. It creates pathways that are genuinely accessible to those who might otherwise never get to engage with the arts. They collaborate to co-create and co-author work that represents the community, creating the space needed for people to tell their story in their own way. Theatre Royal Plymouth is the UK’s largest regional producing theatre. With a focus on embracing the vitality of new talent and supporting emerging and established artists. It collaborates with a range of partners to provide dynamic cultural leadership for the city of Plymouth.
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Photo Credit: Paul Blakemore
