imitating the dog Archives - North West End UK

26Apr

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

Macbeth – Liverpool Playhouse

An explosive fusion of live action and multimedia technology pops off the stage and saturates the senses, with this self-described ‘neon noir thriller’ styled interpretation of the Bard’s ‘Scottish Play’. Technical theatrical ground breakers, Andrew Quick, Pete Brooks and Simon Wainwright, otherwise known as Imitating the Dog, produce and direct this postmodernist retelling of Shakespeare’s “Wonder Boy”, Macbeth, brilliantly portrayed by Benjamin Westerby. The multiple layers of this clever production really do test the senses with various points of action taking place simultaneously, taking us on a rapid adventure through this tragic tale of the psychological and physical effects that come with the pursuit of power. If you’re familiar with the aesthetic of DC’s Go...

Dracula: The Untold Story – Leeds Playhouse

4Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dracula: The Untold Story – Leeds Playhouse

For over a century Count Dracula has been part of our popular culture so it’s smart of imitating the dog to make him a peripheral figure in his own play. Instead, they cleverly switch the focus to Mina Harker who in Bram Stoker’s gothic classic not only had her neck bitten but pulled together all the threads to create the myth of the immortal Transylvanian bloodsucker. They’ve also updated the story to 1965 as Harker walks into a London police station confessing a murder to two police officers, and we learn that she has used her immortal superhuman power for what she thinks is the greater good as the Count lurks around the piece as the embodiment of eternal darkness. As usual the team deploys a wide range of high-tech digital tricks, including two video cameras and stage side gre...

26Sep

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

imitating the dog take on the undead

Nobody ever accused imitating the dog of not being ambitious but in Dracula: The Untold Story they are taking on one of the world’s biggest cultural icons. Typically, they are twisting the timeless classic to look at the Transylvanian prince of the undead from a totally new perspective. As well as the usual innovative visuals they have become famous for over the last two decades this co-production with Leeds Playhouse will use the stage to create a live graphic novel. Our Yorkshire Editor Paul Clarke spoke to imitating the dog’s co-artistic director Andrew Quick to find how they are reimagining Bram Stoker’s classic tale of Count Dracula’s bloodlust. This might be your biggest challenge as Dracula is such an iconic figure to virtually everyone on the planet. You’re right...

Leeds Playhouse announce Autumn/Winter season

18Jul

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Leeds Playhouse announce Autumn/Winter season

Leeds Playhouse have announced their Autumn-Winter season including Wendy & Peter Pan as their blockbuster festive show. Families will be taken on an unforgettable trip to Neverland from 18th November to 22nd January as the cast fly around Ella Hickon’s adaptation of the J M Barrie classic retelling the story from the unique viewpoint of Wendy Darling. This year’s Leeds West Indian Carnival has been cancelled because of the pandemic, but the King & Queen event is still taking place on 27th August, and for the first time the Prince & Princess is staged a week before. Both shows will be a celebration of emancipation set to sweet sounds of the socabeats and steelpans as the carnival chronicles its 54-year history. Freedom Project from 10th – 18th September melds lived ex...

Casting announced for Dracula: The Untold Story

9Jun

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Casting announced for Dracula: The Untold Story

Leeds Playhouse and imitating the dog have announced the casting for their premiere of Dracula: The Untold Story. It’s a typically radical new adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic gothic horror novel told from the perspective of Mina Harker, the novel’s heroine. Leona Allen will play Mina Harker joined by Matt Prendergast and Adela Rajnović who play all the other roles. Just before midnight on New Year's Eve in 1965, as revellers in London celebrate the beginning of another year, a young woman enters Marylebone Police Station and confesses to a brutal murder. She claims to be Mina Harker, the last living survivor of the intrepid group that brought about Count Dracula’s destruction some 70 years before. But Mina Harker has not been seen since 1901. And if she were alive, she wou...

More shows announced as Everyman & Playhouse prepare for reopening

21May

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

NEWS

More shows announced as Everyman & Playhouse prepare for reopening

An exciting new co-production, massive visiting shows, comedians and one night shows form part of the Liverpool Playhouse’s 2021-22 season, as the theatre returns to a busy schedule of live performance. Marking a return to collaborating with some of the UK’s best theatre-makers, Everyman & Playhouse will work with Leicester Curve and English Touring Theatre to present a co-production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (22 Sept – 2 Oct) at the Playhouse. A new revival of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, the production is directed by Anthony Almeida and is a blazing portrayal of what it takes to survive in a society where we’re all desperate to feel free. Kickass-pirational new musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World (8 Dec – 2 Jan) puts women centre s...

imitating the dog take on the Prince of Darkness

30Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

imitating the dog take on the Prince of Darkness

imitating the dog are back with a radical new adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula telling this gothic classic from the perspective of the novel’s heroine Mina Harker. Written and directed by imitating the dog’s co-artistic directors Andrew Quick and Pete Brooks, Dracula: The Untold Story will open at Leeds Playhouse from 25th Sept – 9th Oct ahead of a UK tour. New Year’s Eve 1965, London, England. Just before midnight, as revellers celebrate the beginning of another year, a young woman enters Marylebone Police Station and confesses to a brutal murder. She claims to be Mina Harker, the last living survivor of the intrepid group that brought about Count Dracula’s destruction some 70 years before. But Mina Harker has not been seen since 1901, and if she were alive she would be ninet...

Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show – Leeds Playhouse

12Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show – Leeds Playhouse

imitating the dog are a company who make things difficult as part of their creative DNA so it’s not much of a surprise they are the first company to try a national tour in the midst of a pandemic. The audience are placed on socially distanced cones outside Leeds Playhouse, sans cover, as are the three strong cast also exposed to the elements playing a gang of ghoulish vigilantes who travel the country righting wrongs. This time they are on the trail of a crooked mayor, a bent chief constable and a dodgy headteacher who are conspiring to build the biggest casino in the UK before pocketing in the profits. Some critics who like to over intellectualise work will no doubt bemoan the slight narrative, and the chance to rub their chin reflectively. The rest of us are just grateful it’s ...

Imitating the dog are the first company to get back on the road

5Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews, NEWS

Imitating the dog are the first company to get back on the road

If you had to put your money on any company having the balls to get back on the road in the midst of a pandemic a strong favourite would be imitating the dog. Over the last 20 years they have never been afraid of a challenge and they have been busy devising a new outdoor show Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show that kicks off a national tour at Leeds Playhouse. Co-Artistic Director Pete Brooks is hard at work with the cast at the Playhouse but says that a company famed for their innovative use of technology are taking inspiration from an ancient theatrical tradition for their latest adventure. “It’s not set in mediaeval times, but it’s a sort of mediaeval morality tale when groups of traveling players told stories,” says Pete in a break from final rehearsals. “The idea is that there i...

Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show opens at Leeds Playhouse

16Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show opens at Leeds Playhouse

imitating the dog and Leeds Playhouse are joining forces once again for the première of the raucous and dark Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show. This show is part of Leeds Playhouse’s reopening season to safely reintroduce audiences to the live theatre experience. Directed and written by imitating the dog’s Co-artistic Directors Andrew Quick and Pete Brooks they open outside on Playhouse Square from the 7th – 8th October and tour until 24th October. imitating the dog bring all their theatrical and technical acumen to this unique outdoor live theatre experience creating a tale of mischief and immorality, drawing on classic horror movies and the traditions of carnival and medicine shows. It’s set in a mythical 'North' as Dr Blood and his motley crew tell a tale of the price paid for pu...