Mankind and Pride of Life UK Tour

PLS Presents, with the generous support of the Connaught Fund,
two medieval English morality plays — on tour across the UK:

MANKIND
(a mischievously cautionary tale, with poop)

THE PRIDE OF LIFE
(a mor[t]ality play,
whose lost second half is reimagined differently at every show!)

TOURING THE UK IN JULY 2016!

ALL SHOWS ARE FREE (donations gratefully accepted!)
AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. NO TICKETS NECESSARY!

Please SPREAD THE WORD
to FRIENDS IN THE UK
(and NERDS EVERYWHERE)!

Wed 6 July, 7pm, Leeds: MANKIND
— at the University of Leeds Beechgrove Plaza
(directions: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/campusmap?location=1135)

Fri 8 July, 12:30pm, Durham: MANKIND
— in Durham’s Town Square (you can’t miss us!)

Sun 10 July: PRIDE OF LIFE World Premiere, 12:30pm
— at Durham University’s Joachim Room
(directions: https://www.dur.ac.uk/about/location)

Wed 13 July, 6:30pm, east London: PRIDE OF LIFE
— at the People’s Palace Great Hall
(directions: http://www.qmgreathall.co.uk/location)

Thu 14 July, 12:45pm, east London: MANKIND
(“surprise” outdoor performance at the NCS lunch hour!)
— at Queen Mary University of London Libaray Square
(navigate to 327 Mile End Road; look for library square)

Sat 16 July, 7:30pm, Birmingham: MANKIND
produced in association with Stan’s Cafe
— in the Courtyard @ A E Harris
(directions: http://www.aeharrisvenue.co.uk/directions.html)

Sun 17 July, 7:30pm, Birmingham: PRIDE OF LIFE
produced in association with Stan’s Cafe
— in the Theatre @ A E Harris
(directions: http://www.aeharrisvenue.co.uk/directions.html)

—–

Our 6 July show will be presented in conjunction with the International Medieval Congress at Leeds (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/imc/publicevents.html)

Our 8 and 10 July shows will be presented in conjunction with the SITM Theatrum Mundi Festival
(http://www.sitm.info/durham-performance-program)

Our 13 and 14 July shows will be presented in conjunction with the New Chaucer Society Congress
(http://newchaucersociety.org/pages/entry-sub/schedule-13-july)

Check out the Stan’s Cafe write-up for our shows 16/17 July: http://www.stanscafe.co.uk/?p=3996

—–

Ridiculous, irreverent, raucously relevant: join PLS on our UK TOUR for two uproarious glimpses into the dynamic, scatological, and often hilarious world of English plays as they were performed six centuries ago. We translate original scripts into contemporary English and combine them with real medieval music, costume design, and performance practices — hints of a culture that was, in some ways, more liberated and freethinking than our current one.

In our silly, scatological MANKIND (from the year c. 1464), the stodgy Mercy and the unhinged Mischief strive for the attention of a very distractable Mankind, overwhelming him with grandiose speeches, ridiculous songs, bodily humour, and a cheerful demon who creates human error.

In THE PRIDE OF LIFE, from the late 1300s, the bombastic King Life believes he will live forever… He and his jolly knights ignore the Queen’s urgent warnings that a rival king, has recently landed in their realm. Since only the first half of the original manuscript has been found, we will draw on audience input to improvise the play’s lost but inevitable mortal conclusion differently at every showing!

In a subversion of the original scripts’ anti-feminist themes, both shows are performed by six non-male actors. Family-friendly, free of charge, and accessible, all of our shows will be Relaxed Performances.

—–

OUR TEAM:

Ara Glenn-Johanson (Strength / Mischief)
Polly Phokeev (Health / Mankind)
Tricia Postle (Bishop / Nought)
Cassidy Sadler (Queen / New Guise)
Heather Sanderson (King Life / Nowadays)
Nicole Wilson (Mirth / Mercy)

with special musical guests PNEUMA ENSEMBLE
(Eleanor Verrette on vielle; Gaven Dianda on citole, gittern, recorder, percussion; Tricia Postle on psaltery, voice)

directed by Matthew Milo Sergi
choreographed by Ara Glenn-Johanson
costumes by Linda Phillips
management by Dawn Nearing and Chandos Ross