About me:
The Ophaboom Theatre Company, founded in London in 1991, specializes in creating and performing contemporary works in the Italian Commedia dell' Arte tradition.
In its earliest form, Commedia married the rough entertainments of traveling mountebanks and street peddlers with the masks of carnival and the classicism of Greek and Roman drama -- using stock characters to create a vibrant physical spectacle performed on high trestle stages in crowded squares or piazzas. The popularity of Commedia dell' Arte spread across medieval and Renaissance Europe with profound results. Its themes can be found time and time again in the works of Shakespeare, Moliere and other great European dramatists.
Drawing on medieval theatre and the origins of Commedia, Ophaboom set out to create a style of theatre in the manner of strolling players that would resonate with a modern audience. Although we sometimes perform in traditional theatre spaces, we also set up our trestle stage at festivals, on street corners, in village halls, in bowling alleys and many other less conventional venues -- for Ophaboom is dedicated to bringing theatre to audiences who might not otherwise go to see it.
We draw on the themes of familiar stories (Richard III, Robin Hood, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Faustus, etc.) and make use of traditional Commedia techniques, but our shows are not museum pieces from a bygone age. Ophaboom brings the trickster spirit of Commedia into the 21st century, creating shows that are socially and politically topical...as well as slapstick and hilarious!
We perform in a variety of languages (sometimes within the same show!), and have toured extensively through France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and throughout the British Isles. We have also toured in North America and South Korea. We were honored to be asked to perform four times at Venice Carnival; and we were the first English company to appear at the Medieval Festival in Le Puy-en-Velay.
'Criminally insane comedy.' -- Time Out
'The actors are masked, the action is loud and the satire is topical. The four-strong company generate a winning warmth.' -- The London Times
'Ophaboom have preserved the spirit of Commedia dell' Arte whilst developing it into a form which is very much of today.' -- British Theatre Guide
The Ophaboom Theatre Company:
Geoff Beale: Co-founder and Artistic Director Howard Gayton: Co-founder and Artistic Director Sarah Ratheram: Performer Claire Jones: Performer
Who I'd like to meet:
Performers and fans of Commedia dell' Arte, physical theatre, mask theatre, and puppetry. Tricksters, jesters, heyokas, pahkolas, sacred clowns, coyotes, scamps, wise fools, Punch and Judy, Captain Jack Sparrow, Homer Simpson, and all who believe in the power of laughter to delight us, outrage us, and change the world.
Mercurius Company are presenting a celebration of Purcell's 350th Anniversary, in a fully staged performance of some of his most inspired music, including excerpts from operas and incidental works. With period instruments, costumes and dance.
This is a totally independently produced and funded. Let's show all that despite economic uncertainty, financial crisis and turmoil there are people who still dare to dream and produce something exciting and inspiring.
Our next Taster days are: *Sunday 10th May 2009 *Sunday 14th June 2009 *Sunday 12th July 2009
2 Week Summer School * 3rd - 14th August 2009
Visit our MySpace for more details.
Meanwhile, please enjoy our slide show of various training programmes offered for adults at Circus Maniacs. [Tasters, Teambuilding, Community, Recreational & Professional Training, Cabarets]
We hope to see you!!! And tell your friends !!!! xxx
hello, bonjour à vous ! très heureux d'être parmi vous. je vous est rencontré en 1990 ou91 à meung sur loire (45-région centre,près d'Orléans), sur le festival Masques et Bouffons. et j'ai rigolé, j'ai rigolé, j'ai rigolé...
Wow! Thanks for the add. I'll be really looking forward to catching one of your performances, when I make it to England, later this year. All the best...
Many Thanks for the add:) I love what you do, keeping the art alive and making it take on new life as you do is a wonderful thing!! Best of luck with all your projects Tanith :)
Ciao Ophaboom! Thanks for the add. I hope you guys have a great year...and that maybe, I can see you perform again--though Venice 1995 was a pretty memorable gig.
Ooops! What I *meant* to say was "So you should check out that picture of the mask that I got when I first saw Ophaboom preform in Venezia back in 1994!"
The Summer Issue of the Journal of Mythic Arts is now online. Our theme this time is myth and mythic fiction for Young Adult readers, with contributions from Christopher Barzak, Steve Berman, Holly Black, Gwenda Bond, Neil Gaiman, Will Shetterly, Catherynne M. Valente, and many others. Please join us!
Hello Ophaboom!! Thanks for request! It cheers to me to have variety of artists between my friends and comedians you are first… I wish all the luck You of the world in your work… I hope that you like my works!!! A hug from Spain!! Maite Cruz-Digital Art
