I play the role of Aeriella, an aerialist with vertigo, in this “gloriously dark, humane, weird little show” (ThreeWeeks) which is “a short and curly tale of itinerant Circus folk and a Pig who taught himself to read” (Fittings Multimedia Arts). I utilise acting, dance, aerial silks and percussion for this dark, funny and twisted children’s play.
Bonaparte’s travelling circus and marvellous menagerie has hit the skids. A zoo with just pigeons, an aerialist with vertigo and a Mr Memory who can’t remember his name. No one was coming. And then into their lives came a Pig…
Edmund the Learned Pig goes on a national tour in 2015 starting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2015 as part of the British Council Edinburgh Showcase 2015.
Edmund the Learned Pig is a children’s dark comedy, musical play with integrated sign language.
– Written by Mike Kenny and directed by Gordon Dougall
– With songs written by Martyn Jacques of the Tiger Lillies
– Co-produced by Fittings Multimedia Arts, Krazy Kat Theatre and Royal Exchange Manchester.
Cast
Edmund Anthony Cairns
The Boss Garry Robson
Mr Mesmo Kinny Gardner
The Missus Caroline Parker MBE
Aeriella Annette Walker
Bearded Lady (Music director) Sally Clay
Photos of Aeriella
Photography © Joel Fildes
TOUR DATES 2015
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015
Mon 24th – Sun 30th August
11:20am daily
Main Hall, Summerhall (Venue 26), 1 Summerhall Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL
Freedom Festival, Hull
Sun 6th September
1pm (doors 12.30pm)
Festival Big Top, Humber Street, Hull, HU1 1TU
Box Office: 01482 221113
“Plan your week’s theatre: top tickets” by Lyn Gardner | The Guardian | 31st August 2015
Also on Saturday, and into Sunday, there are lots of good things at Hull’s Freedom festival, including… Edmund the Learned Pig by Fittings
Norwich Playhouse
Mon 14 September
7:30pm
42-58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB
Box Office: 01603 598598
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
Thurs 1st October at 1.00pm and 7.30pm
Fri 2nd October at 1.00pm
Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV1 1SE
Box Office: 01902 321 321
Reviews
★★★★ Review by Paul F Cockburn | BroadwayBaby | 30th August 2015
A stylish, warm-hearted show for all the family, told with real bravado.
★★★★★ Review by Gemma Scott | ThreeWeeks | 28th August 2015
Bonaparte’s circus is failing. The aerialist is afraid of heights and the mind-reader is losing his memory. Failing, that is, until the arrival of Edmund, a puppet pig who can talk, sing, read and dance. The design is all dusty, faded glamour which, combined with aerial silk work and music by the Tiger Lillies’ Martyn Jacques, really puts the spectacular into this super, sometimes very silly, show. References to Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ are dropped in amongst the bacon jokes, as Edmund is seen as either saviour or dinner. The play also beautifully integrates British Sign Language, the bilingual actors translating when other characters are talking. ‘Edmund the Learned Pig’ is a gloriously dark, humane, weird little show.
FringeReview by Jo Tomalin | 27th August 2015
The performers play energetic, fleshed out and quirky characters, which make the show fascinating to watch and hold attention right to the end… Ariella the circus performer who has lost her nerve played by Annette Walker is poignant and ethereal, wearing a beautiful white satin old time circus costume with colourful embroidery, glittering sequins and silk. She keeps one secret to the very end.
★★★★ Review by Alfred Hickling | The Guardian | 21st October 2013
But the real ace up the production’s sleeve is the presence of aerialist Annette Walker, who finally conquers her vertigo to produce a breathtaking silk routine
Edmund the Learned Pig Related Links
Resources by the Royal Exchange Manchester
British Council Edinburgh Showcase 2015
Aerial rehearsal rehearsal Sept 2015
Modified aerial act for a lower rig point at Wolverhampton Arena