Spymonkey’s tragically funny attempt to pull off a classic Greek comedy
Northampton’s Royal & Derngate are delighted to be collaborating again with leading physical comedy ensemble company Spymonkey for their latest Made in Northampton co-production, The Frogs, which premieres on the Royal stage from Friday 19 January to Saturday 3 February.
This hilarious production is the result of a long term development process between Spymonkey and Royal & Derngate, and follows on from previous successful collaborations including The Complete Deaths of Shakespeare and Oedipussy. Images have been released from inside the rehearsal room, photographs by Manuel Harlan.
Spymonkey’s Toby Park and Aitor Basauri are at the end of the road. The other Spymonkeys have taken themselves off to a better place, and they’re about to call it a day. To their rescue rides mega-rich philanthropist Patty Getty and her theatrically ambitious niece Jacoba with an offer they can’t refuse! But does this beleaguered comedy duo have what it takes to perform the classic Greek comedy The Frogs at Patty’s legendary amphitheatre in Hollywood?
Shot through with Spymonkey’s uniquely surreal comedy, The Frogs is a delirious trip through Greek theatre, a monster-filled Underworld and classic vaudeville double acts, promising more existential angst than Clash of the Titans and more bronzed oiled torsos than Waiting For Godot. Oh, and there’s a jumping chorus of tap-dancing frogs!
Reimagined by Carl Grose (Oedipussy, Grinning Man) and Spymonkey, with massive apologies to Aristophanes, The Frogs is directed by Joyce Henderson, who recently did the comedy direction for Bleak Expectations, and has gloriously silly, inventive design by Spymonkey’s designer Lucy Bradridge. The Frogs is performed by Toby Park, Aitour Basouri and Jacoba Williams, along with a community ensemble of local tap dancers.
Listings
Spymonkey’s The Frogs: Friday 19 January to Saturday 3 February
Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP
Access performances:
Captioned – Thu 25 January 2.30pm
Audio Described – Thu 1 February 7.30pm
BSL Integrated – Fri 2 February 7.30pm (incl BSL interpreted Post-show Talk) & Tue 30 January 7.30pm
Touch Tour – Thu 1 February 6.30pm
Kiln Theatre, London
Thursday 8 February – Saturday 2 March 2024
Further Information: Home - Royal & Derngate (royalandderngate.co.uk)