European Arts Co.

PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS:

2007-2008
‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ by Oscar Wilde

Fresh from a highly successful tour of Italy comes ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. With the kind permission of Il Palchetto Stage, we present this production for Spring 2008 and look forward to touring it in the UK. Adapted from the novel by Oscar Wilde, the show is highly physical and a versatile cast of actors tells the wicked, witty story of Dorian Gray using only the objects found within an artist’s studio. Therefore picture frames, plinths, paint pots, brushes, dust sheets, stepladders, trestles and little else are used to create the physical world of Victorian London with great ingenuity and a lot of fun.

2007
"Chekhov's Shorts"

Touring to 53 UK venues from September 2006 to April 2007, ‘Chekhov’s Shorts’ delighted audiences everywhere with wit, charm and 3 brilliant performances:

Review from Local Secrets Ltd (www.localsecrets.com)
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Chekov's ShortsThoughts of Chekov usually bring to mind painful beauty and Russian tragedy, which is why this snappy collection of funny short plays is such a delight. Featuring The Bear, The Proposal, Swan Song and The Evils of Tobacco, it was fascinating to see the funny side of the Russian playwright. Chekhov is best known for plays such as The Seagull, The Cherry Orchard, The Three Sisters and Uncle Vanya as well as for his short stories, but these exceedingly beautiful plays are also exceedingly tragic.

These comic shorts contained all the characters for a classic Chekov tragedy, lonely widows, old maids, fading actors, death, marriage and decline - but turned these elements on their head to make a fantastically funny set of plays which poke fun at our foibles, rather than lamenting them. The European Arts Company have really done a fantastic job bringing all the humour and energy out the collection of one-act farces, whilst at the same time reflecting all the drama and classic beauty which is synonymous with Chekov.

The three actors performing five plays outdid themselves for demonstrating their tenacity; from Richard Latham playing a hen-pecked husband to a depressed ageing actor, Jennifer Bryden a match-maker or widow, and Daniel Harcourt a distinguished captain to consumptive landowner. All three flowed into a multitude of roles seamlessly, with healthy doses of slapstick humour to keep the entertainment levels high. This combined with a a simple, changeable set made for a wonderful performance which would delight any Chekov aficionado, as well as those out for a good laugh with some raucous vaudeville entertainment to boot.

Reviews: Salisbury Journal - "Perfect introduction to the world of CHekhov"

2002
‘The Dumb Waiter’ & ‘The Lover’ by Harold Pinter

With the support of the British Council in Athens, EAC embarked on a tour of this entertaining double-bill to university and college theatres in Athens and Thessaloniki, including Aristotle University, University of Athens, City Liberal Studies, La Verne, New York College, Moraitis, ACS.

‘European Arts Company are to be congratulated…inspiring, exciting, an excellent theatrical happening’ Lavernica, Athens

‘A great performance, engaging company, extraordinary effects and enthusiastic students’ – Professor Elizabeth Sakelaridou, Author of ‘Pinter’s Female Portraits’ (London: Macmillan, 1988), Aristotle University, Thessaloniki

2003
‘The 39 Steps’ by Nobby Dimon & Simon Corble

Poster designed by David Goebel]

EAC was invited by the Hellenic Centre for the International Theatre Institute (ITI) and sponsored by the British Council to perform this remarkable adaptation of John Buchan’s classic at the prestigious Embros Theatre in Athens, as well as to school and college theatres in the area.

‘Monty Python meets Alfred Hitchcock!’ – Time Out, Athens

‘European Arts Company really takes the audience by storm…a surreal performance, witty and hilarious, full of energy, talent and creativity’ – Culture Guide, Athens

2004
The 39 Steps by Nobby Dimon & Simon Corble

Such was the success of the previous year’s production that we were invited to return to the Altera Pars Theatre in Athens, the first time an English language production had been performed there.

‘The cast have almost as much fun as the audience…European Arts Company provides sheer entertainment but also an excellent opportunity for seeing high quality live theatre’. International Herald Tribune

2005
A Slight Ache & The Lover by Harold Pinter

Performing at Stantonbury Campus Theatre, Horsebridge Arts Centre, Epsom Playhouse Studio, Mumford Theatre Cambridge, Ashcroft Arts Centre, Portsmouth Arts Centre, Brook Theatre Chatham, Eastbourne College, Havant Arts Centre, Forest Arts Centre, Central Studio Basingstoke, Hat Factory Luton, Tower Arts Centre, Thameside Theatre, Palace Theatre Westcliff, Astor Theatre and Old Town Hall, High Wycombe.

‘David Roylance’s sensitive yet pacy direction is very entertaining’ The Stage

FUTURE PRODUCTIONS

Spring 2006 – ‘A Slight Ache’ & ‘The Lover’ by Harold Pinter

New blurb should read: Due to the success of our 2005 tour, this production was revived and directed by Jonathan Kemp. Opening at the Courtyard Theatre in Hereford on Mon 20th February and touring for 6 weeks to 34 venues in England & Wales, the tour concluded at the Arena Theatre Wolverhampton on Fri 31st March 2006.

'When reality and imagination clash, we are reassured that the future for them is one of joyous fulfilment. And if the Arts Centre continue to give us productions of this quality, I believe the same can be said of it'. Salisbury Journal, March 2006.

[Poster (left) designed by Marc Kain]