Theatre / the wardrobe theatre
“Imagine if Blackadder did Brexit”
Sharp Teeth Theatre and The Wardrobe Theatre present this right royal romp through British history, exploring politics, passion and parlour games; a cross-dressing comedy for all those with a taste for Victoria’s Sponge and who enjoy playing with their Prince Albert.
It’s 1848 and Europe is revolting. As foreign royals topple at an alarming rate, how long will it be before the whispers of revolution reach the proud shores of old Blighty?
With an isolated, postnatal Queen intent on playing solitaire, can the future of the British monarchy be saved before those dastardly working-classes start uprising or will it all end in a real-life wink murder?
is needed now More than ever
Expect clowning, cream cakes and jokes about history in this gender-bending new show which asks why Britain refuses to play by continental rules.
Pics: Adam Fung
Here are co-director Stephanie Kempson and dramaturg Matthew Whitte to tell us more.
Well, so, tell us about Parlour Games.
With Parlour Games we wanted to explore why there wasn’t a revolution in Britain in the 19th century (whereas there were in France, Germany and lots of the rest of Europe). Ultimately, we have made a show about the rich and the powerful in our country and why we let them get away with it!
We didn’t want the show to be serious, though, so we’ve made it with a lot of comedy and clowning – and, most importantly, we have gender-swapped the casting of the lead roles. So, Queen Victoria is being played by the six-foot-two-inches Peter Baker, and Prince Albert by the brilliant Lucy Harrington.
And what can audiences expect?
A fast and very funny relationship drama with echoes of modern social and political issues. Imagine if Blackadder did Brexit.
What particular moments from British history does the show zoom in on?
We’ve set the show in 1848 in Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s palatial holiday home on the Isle of Wight, during a period when foreign royals were being ran out of their own countries (or even killed!) and people were extremely anxious that the same might happen here.
The show’s style is quite farcical so we’re being pretty fast and loose with some of the historical accuracies but some of the more surprising elements we’ve included are far truer than you might expect.
And who is involved in the show?
We’re thrilled to have brought a fantastic team together for Parlour Games, including many people who have collaborated on some of The Wardrobe Theatre’s most popular shows over the years including Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera and our big comedy Christmas shows like Goldilock, Stock & Three Smoking Bears. The show is co-directed by Steph Kempson (Jane Eyre, The Spooky Ship, Polly: The Heartbreak Opera, The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil, The Fox & The Child, Score, Pulling Out) and Andy Kelly (Hug, The Star Seekers, Beneath The Blizzard, Neither There Nor Here), and stars Peter Baker (Murder, She Didn’t Write) and Lucy Harrington (Nincompoop, Wake Up & Dierdrealize) with dramaturg Matthew Whittle (Reservoir Mogs, Muppits Die Hard). Parlour Games is a co-production between The Wardrobe Theatre and Sharp Teeth Theatre who have been curating a storytelling, theatre, music and poetry night at Wardrobe Theatre for over four years.
Parlour Games is at the Wardrobe Theatre from Wed, July 11 to Sat, July 14. For more info, visit thewardrobetheatre.com/livetheatre/parlour-games
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