Theatre Alibi

Theatre Alibi
By Daniel Jamieson

COBBO 2009

Theatre Alibi
By Daniel Jamieson
Touring Spring 2016
“The house had shivered, like someone had
slammed the front door, only it lasted for
two or three seconds. It was round twenty
to five and already getting dark. I called for Alice,
who’d gone to get some apples from the shed and
went outside. I could hear the sliding of earth and
pebbles tumbling. The sound was coming from our
lawn – but it wasn’t a sound that belonged on a
lawn. The turf was hanging down like a torn carpet
over the edge of a neat hole in the earth about
twelve feet across – it was a funnel going down out
of sight into darkness. There was cold air rushing
out of it that smelt of damp cellars. And Alice had
fallen down there…”
What
happens
when
terra firma
isn’t firm
at all…?

Sinkholes are an extraordinary phenomenon.
Huge gaping chasms that appear in the blink of
an eye and swallow whole buildings, cars,
people… The hole that Alice falls down is caused
by the collapse of an old mine. And the whole
town is riddled with old mineshafts, like
Gruyère cheese...
Falling tells the emotionally powerful story of
Alice and her mother Claire and charts what
happens when what you thought was solid is,
quite literally, undermined. As the shockwaves
reverberate, normal day-to day life seems like a
dream and terror is just a heartbeat away.
Theatre Alibi use powerful performance,
projection and a thrilling soundscape to tell an
intimate and unnerving story.

Theatre Alibi
Theatre Alibi are contemporary
storytellers with an excellent
reputation for distinctive new work
that’s visually and physically inventive.
Our productions make the most of the
live nature of theatre – actors and
musicians are absolutely present with
their audience. And we delight in
revealing acts of transformation that
would often be confined to the wings.
The company integrates a wide range
of other art forms into its work and
recent productions have featured
animation, live art, film, photography
and music both live and recorded.
Our work includes original new work
and adaptations and we tour to both
small and mid-scale theatres. Past
productions include Hammer & Tongs,
Curiosity Shop, Goucher’s War,
The Ministry of Fear, Cobbo, Caught
and One in a Million. Theatre Alibi is
an Arts Council England National
Portfolio Organisation and is also
funded by Devon County Council
and Exeter City Council.
See our website for more details
www.theatrealibi.co.uk
CURIOSITY SHOP 2013

Audiences
Falling is for
• People who enjoy emotionally powerful productions
• People who enjoy contemporary theatre
• People who enjoy physical storytelling
• Mothers & daughters
• GCSE & A Level Drama students
Key Selling Points
• A powerful story about dealing with a fear we all experience – how
will we cope when things crash into us that we can’t control?
• An intimate and emotionally rich portrait of a mother and daughter
relationship
• A highly visual show, incorporating strong imagery through
projection and performance
• A visceral live and recorded soundscape
• Theatre Alibi’s reputation for inventive physical storytelling,
integrating other artforms and high production values
• The style of Theatre Alibi’s work and quality of our highly praised
creative learning resources make our productions highly attractive to
teachers and students. We will mail schools and colleges on your
behalf. The cost of this postal mailing is incorporated in our fee.
Please see our website for creative learning resources accompanying
previous productions.
Marketing
Theatre Alibi has an excellent reputation for providing clear information,
visually arresting print, strong photos and relevant social media and
online content. Previous marketing packs are available on request.

Press Quotes
HAMMER & TONGS 2014
Hammer & Tongs
By Daniel Jamieson
“This highly physical show is intelligently devised as the actors engage,
entertain and intrigue…” THE STAGE
“Theatre Alibi has established a firm reputation for its inventive and vivid stage
productions and Hammer & Tongs is no exception” BRISTOL EVENING POST

Goucher’s War
By Daniel Jamieson
“An impressive parachuting of the audience into quickly
assembled worlds and characters you care about instantly,
buffeted by questions that are delicately, tenderly explored.
The themes in the show are hefty. But as always with this
company the telling is an inventive delight”
THE GUARDIAN ★★★★
“A tale that is by turns comic, thought-provoking and deeply
poignant. With sterling performances throughout this fastpaced
story captivates its audiences” THE STAGE
Cobbo
By Daniel Jamieson
“The tale moves charismatically between dream worlds, human
environments and watery realms to craft a very modern love
story that casts a considerable spell” THE GUARDIAN ★★★★
“Theatre Alibi creates a tale so unusual and surreal that it
holds audiences spellbound. Funny, tender and touching.
Simply unforgettable…” THE STAGE

HAMMER & TONGS 2014

CURIOSITY SHOP 2013

Caught
By Daniel Jamieson
“Theatre Alibi do it again and it
just gets better. In a sparkling
light mix of their signature
comedy and farce blended
over a dark skeleton of cruel
secrets and hypocrisy, Theatre
Alibi have created a fabulous
play and a true testament to
the light and dark that
inspired Caravaggio”
THE BIG ISSUE
“Live music swells and ebbs
over dialogue, giving a filmic
feel to a piece that sketches
its characters with great
tenderness and pathos.
This is wonderful stuff”
BRISTOL EVENING POST
“If Simon Schama hasn’t got
there first, Caught will make
you want to scrutinise every
painting Caravaggio ever
made, and wonder”
VENUE ★★★★
“Totally enthralling”
PLYMOUTH EVENING HERALD
GOUCHER’S WAR 2011

Curiosity Shop
A contemporary adaptation of Dickens’s novel
By Daniel Jamieson
“Theatre Alibi’s Curiosity Shop is beguiling.
Dickens’s ghost nodded approval” THE TIMES
“Curiosity Shop looks and sounds fabulous and is full
of imaginative takes on familiar characters” THE STAGE
“This modern day adaptation blending photography, music,
film and Theatre Alibi’s signature immersive performance
style is an utter triumph” EXETER DAILY
“An enjoyable, emotional rollercoaster”
THE PUBLIC REVIEWS ★★★★
“A hugely enjoyable production” NEWBURY WEEKLY NEWS
“A talented cast combine with Daniel Jamieson’s moving
adaptation of The Old Curiosity Shop to create a truly
memorable production” DIG YORKSHIRE

ONE IN A MILLION 2004
The Ministry of Fear
By Graham Greene. Adapted by Daniel Jamieson
“A deft and fast moving stage interpretation”
THE SCOTSMAN ★★★★
“Theatre Alibi’s production achieves its effect
very cleverly indeed” WHATS ON STAGE ★★★★
“A superb, engrossing and intriguing play with light
and shade, comedy, tragedy and suspense”
THE BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

The Crowstarver
By Dick King-Smith. Adapted by Daniel Jamieson
“Heart-gladdening theatre… hugely moving…
the immersive, inventive storytelling that Theatre Alibi does
so well. The impact of this story is ingeniously matched by a
sensual richness in the design and style of the production”
THE GUARDIAN ★★★★
“This is intelligent and moving theatre that doesn’t shy away
from asking big questions. Malcolm Hamilton is outstanding
as the unlikely hero of the fields, giving a beautifully
nuanced performance” THE STAGE
“An uplifting and life-affirming production. No-one should
miss the opportunity to see this remarkable production,
which offers bravura performances” OXFORD TIMES
“The Crowstarver truly is faultless theatre – moving and
highly original. Don’t miss it” WHATS ON STAGE ★★★★
“Truly touching, unsentimental and inventive theatre that
should be seen by everyone who loves theatre, and will
convert those who think the form has little to offer today.
A wondrous stage piece combining superb acting, brilliant
puppets and live music that underscores and defines the
action perfectly” REVIEWSGATE
“Rich storytelling, beautifully drawn characters and a
trademark quirkiness all add up to a piece of theatre to
savour” EXPRESS & ECHO
“An extraordinary and heart-warming story”
WESTERN MORNING NEWS

CAUGHT 2007

GOUCHER’S WAR 2011

One in a Million
By Daniel Jamieson
“Witty writing, sharp physical
performance, a beautiful set
and a clever use of music are
just some of the reasons that
this such a gem of a show.
The quality of work
emerging from Theatre Alibi
places this highly inventive
company in a deserved
position of success with
theatre audiences of all ages”
TOTAL THEATRE
“Reviewing plays is like the
fairy tales. You have to kiss
an awful lot of frogs before
you meet a prince.
One in a Million is a prince”
WESTERN MORNING NEWS
“An evening of theatre that
is an absolute joy”
REVIEWSGATE
MINISTRY OF FEAR 2010

Touring Spring 2016
Audience Adults 14+
Running time
Performance space
On Tour 4
80 minutes, no interval (tbc)
End on
6.5m width x 6.5m depth x 5m height to grid.
If your space is smaller, please let us know –
we may be able to accommodate your venue
2 Actors, 1 Musician, 1 Technical Stage Manager
Get-in
Get-out
Pre-rig before the 4 hour get-in. 1 - 2 venue technicians required (tbc)
1 hour (tbc)
To book or for more details contact:
Jen Sullivan at Dep Arts: jen@departsltd.com ☎0113 234 6911
www.theatrealibi.co.uk
Photos: Steve Tanner. Design: Joe Pieczenko