Support Australian Theatre in the West End

Shakespeare’s seductively powerful Queens and his darkly mad King Lear fascinated audiences at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe. Now they're together in the West End: two satisfying halves of an eclectic and highly entertaining Shakespearian 'Double Bill'. www.double-bill.com SHAKESPEARE'S QUEENS: She-wolves and Serpents Presented by Straylight Australia They're dead! But Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots are still arguing furiously over who ruled best. When Shakespeare finds himself caught in the middle, he summons the seductive, ambitious and fabulously powerful Queens from his plays to help settle the dispute. Meet them all, from the She-wolf of France to the Serpent of the Nile, in this entertaining and fast-paced hour of intrigue, passion, tragedy and triumph. ‘Exquisitely performed’ (Stage) 'Accessible to Bard aficionados and novices alike, this is definitely recommended.' (Broadway Baby) 'A jewel of a show… A dizzying, invigorating gallop through comedies, tragedies, and histories alike…' (A Younger Theatre) 'A sexy, tempestuous romp… A pitch perfect production' (Fringe Review) Director: Roz Riley Cast: Rachel Ferris, Kath Perry, Patrick Trumper Design Team: Lighting – Stephen Dean, Sound – George Cartledge, Set – Kasper Hansen, Costume – Sarah Cogan www.shakespearesqueens.blogspot.com THE MADNESS OF KING LEAR Presented by CW Productions He's dead, too! But the spirit of the old King is unable to rest as he battles to understand the actions of his three daughters. His dear companion and shamanic guide, Fool, shape-shifts in taunting flashes of half-glimpsed insight, as the King becomes ever more lost in his memory and his madness. Both tragic and playful, this is 'Lear' as you've never seen it before: an explosive fusion of drama, dance, clowning and comedy. ‘Hugely inventive… Ingenious’ (Scotsman) 'It’s utterly innovative… The acting is, quite simply, exceptional… A creative, shocking and entertaining piece of theatre' (Fringe Guru) 'A must-see for all Shakespeare fans' (Rip It Up Publications) 'Masterpiece of wit and grief, tears and music' (A Younger Theatre) Director: Sara Fernandez Reyes Assistant Director: Andrew Kingsford-Smith Cast: Leofric Kingsford-Smith, Lucas R. Tsolkian Design Team: Lighting – Stephen Dean, Set and Costume – Kasper Hansen www.themadnessofkinglear.com For your information: They were successful at the Adelaide Fringe 2012 and they were successful at the Edinburgh Fringe 2012. Due to this success these 2 shows were picked from over 2500 at the Edinburgh to appear at the Arts Theatre in London’s famed West End. What shows you ask? There are” Shakespeare’s Queens: She-wolves & Serpents” and “The Madness of King Lear”. The critics loved them in Adelaide and Edinburgh, now it is London’s turn to love them. This show which opens on the 16th October 2012 – yes not very far away –we would love you to help in any way possible. Whether it is letting people know so that they buy tickets or by sponsoring the production. As you may well be aware it is not that cheap to stage a production, let alone in the fabled West End of London. So in a short space of time we need to grow an audience and get funds together for lighting, costumes, airfares, designers, accommodation – this is only a small part of the list. So could you either make a contribution at the link provided or pass on the message to people in your network. This is another example of Australians out there making a difference. I am one of those Australians along with the cast of both productions. Do not hesitate to contact me on: stephendean60@bigpond.com So follow the link below and be generous. http://www.sponsume.com/project/double-bill-shakespeares-queens-madness-king-lear