THICK is a black comedy by Canadian writer Rick Bland. The show premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2003, sold-out a critically acclaimed run at the 2005 New York Fringe Festival where Rick won the Award for Outstanding Actor. In the autumn of 2005, THICK toured the UK.
Steven Brett, new artistic director of the Nightingale theatre in Brighton has invited the company to remount the show as part of his inaugural season to launch his tenure at the theatre.
THICK centres around Rudolph, a sweet-natured idiot savant, is blissfully unaware of the chaos he creates around him. Rudolph is different and doesn’t know it. Traveling to his born-again, non-alcoholic-gin-drinking mother’s funeral, he encounters his deceased, lawn-obsessed dad. Through Rudolph’s interaction with his parents, a shoe-shop assistant, a Satan-worshipping bag lady, Pope John Paul, and a popcorn seller, he and his sister unwittingly uncover the power and possibility of forgiveness.
The cast of four, who conjure up the 13 different characters in Rudolph’s bleak but beautiful life, include:
Genevieve Adam (Louise and others) Genevieve has performed in North America, UK and Europe. Credits include Old Times (Lean Beggar Theatre), All's Well That Ends Well (Victoria Shakespeare Festival), Romeo and Juliet (Barrie). Radio includes Investigating Mr Thomas (BBC)
Barbara Barnes (Mama and others) Theatre credits include Exonerated (Riverside Studios), Blues for Mr Charlie (Manchester Royal Exchange), Darwin's Flood (Bush Theatre), Intimate Exchanges and Dead Guilty at Theatre Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
TV and film include Poirot, Miss Marple, Stuart, a Life Backward. Radio includes The Talented Mr Ripley The Age of Innocence, Valley of the Dolls, Empty Bed Blues and The Blank Wall (BBC Radio).
Rick Bland (Rudolph/Writer) Most recently, Rick appeared in Generous (Finborough Theatre, Time Out Critics Choice) and wrote and performed in the sketch show Man and Mouse as part of PBH's 2009 Free Fringe. Other credits include being a long time member of The Reduced Shakespeare Company, performing on tour and in the West End, originating the role of Jerry Springer in Jerry Springer, the Opera (BAC and Edinburgh 2002), Strike (Finborough Theatre/BAC Time Out Critics Choice Season), Angel (UK tour, The Mark Bruce Company). Radio includes Unless and Stone Diaries (BBC Radio 4), The Complete History of George W. Bush (co-writer/actor BBC Radio 2). He frequently collaborates with Choreographer Darren Ellis Romeo Error (The Place) and most recently voicing Sticks and Bones (UK and International tours). THICK has recently been adapted into a screenplay.
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Gary Fannin (Dad and others) Gary is a long time member of The Reduced Shakespeare Company, Millennium The Musical (abridged) (UK tour), before moving to the West End to perform in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), The Bible, The Complete Word of God (abridged) and The Complete History of America (abridged) (Criterion Theatre) For three years he was also Staff Director at the Criterion. He was the assistant director on numerous tours and directed the 2005/2005 UK tour of the Shakespeare show. TV and Film roles include Morris: A Life with Bells On, The Vice and The Inbetweeners, co-produced You, Me and Captain Longbridge, for Swing It Films.
Mark Bruce (Director/Music) Mark worked with Rick and Actor Ross Mullan throughout the development of THICK. His Choreographic work includes Crimes of Passion (Bern Ballet), Green Apples (Clore Studio, ROH), the critically acclaimed UK tour of Sea Of Bones and Bad History (Place Prize). Through the Mark Bruce Company, he has made 12 pieces. In May of 2010, his latest work, Love and War premieres at Mayfest at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol where he is associate artist. Through His theatre choreographic/movement credits include Antony and Cleopatra, As You Like It, Way of the World, Peer Gynt, Fast Food and the up coming production of The Bacchae (Manchester Royal Exchange).
Phil Eddolls (designer) Phil has worked extensively with Improbable Theatre, co-designing the award-winning show, The Hanging Man (TMA Award for Best Design). Other work with Improbable includes Shockheaded Peter (UK and International tours, West End), Sticky and Satyagraha (ENO and Metropolitan Opera, NYC). Recent work includes designing Alex - Live on Stage with Robert Bathurst (Arts Theatre, World Tour), The Coventry Mysteries and Gilgamesh (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry) and Angelmoth (Ballet Lorent, Sadler's Wells)
Ross Mullan (Dramaturge/Assistant Director) After taking part in all incarnations of THICK, Ross is acting as assistant director. Other Credits include the newly released Clash of the Titans, a recurring role on Numberjacks (CBBC). He is the puppetteer of the loveable Nev for a 2 seasons on the live TV show Smile (CBBC) then on 4 seasons of Bear Behaving Badly. He helped devise the character of Zippo in Dinotopia for Hallmark. Theatre credits include Sherlock Holmes, David Copperfield and The Christmas Carol (International Tours TNT Theatre), The Selfish Giant (Polka Theatre, Leicester Haymarket) and Twelfth Night (Bath Theatre Royal) |
