10–12 and 16–19 October at 7.30pm / 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 19 October
The Grand-Guignol in Paris gained worldwide notoriety as the ‘Theatre of Horror’ until it closed in the 1960s. The venue specialised in short plays, giving its audience a rollercoaster ride of gruesome horror plays interspersed with hilarious comedies. It was a guaranteed ‘good night out’ of chills and thrills with as many belly-laughs as bloodcurdling screams.
In this rare opportunity, our ensemble will bring this long-dead theatre back to vivid life with a selection of the extraordinary plays that both terrified and titillated the audiences of the past… But don’t get too comfortable – there may be some modern surprises too…!
PLEASE NOTE: the show contains graphic violence, horror effects, sexual content, including themes of child sex abuse. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU MIGHT FIND SUCH MATERIAL UPSETTING.
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| Photography: Sean Owen of Reflective Arts |
"Gripping, entertaining and disturbing. Can’t stop thinking about it! Congratulations to whole cast and crew for exceptional quality throughout." Shelagh Maple [Sewell Barn Trustee]
"Richard Hand’s Grand Guignol... was a fascinating and intriguing journey through the history of the genre. The show masterfully alternated between moments of horror and comedy, immersing the audience in a truly unique experience. The actors delivered inspired performances (special mention for the captivating presentation of Belladonna), which captured all the tension and charm typical of the Grand Guignol. The theatre itself, with its intimate and authentic atmosphere, evoked memories of the early 20th-century Parisian performances, making the evening a memorable tribute to this historic genre. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to see Richard’s and his actors’ magnificent work: it’s an unmissable chance to discover and experience this theatrical tradition, which deserves to be known. I came from Italy to see it, don't miss it if it's in your city!" Gianfilippo Maria Falsina Lamberti - Director of Grand Guignol de Milan
"Congratulations to Richard Hand and all the cast and crew of Grand Guignol at the Sewell Barn Theatre this afternoon. I really wasn’t sure what to expect but it was incredibly atmospheric, funny, dark and highly entertaining with some fantastic performances. Hope you were lucky enough to catch it!" Alison
"Bravo to the cast and crew of the Sewell Barn's "Grand Guignol"! Thoroughly enjoyed the performance this afternoon! Immersive, dark, gory, funny, and even quite thought provoking at times! Très bien! Magnifique!" Lola
"I loved it! Congratulations to you all. A production that had it all, great characters, fantastic costumes and the most fabulous set, with such attention to detail all round the theatre." Jo
"Brilliant show! Suitably hair-raising and creepy!" Trevor
"The set designers have excelled themselves for this production, and the whole theatre has been transformed to match the mood of the Parisian original. The Sewell Barn is a perfect setting for this transformation, every twist and turn through the building gives another delight. The production is well paced with the actors confident in their roles, some of which demand intense dramatic skills to perform. They build credible characters often seen at a time of great crisis in their lives, with bloody consequences." Julian Swainson - Norwich Eye [click here for full review]
"Went to see the Grand Guignol production at the Sewell Barn yesterday, Wonderful, funny, thoughtful and brilliant. Well done everyone involved!" Etta
"Excellent show... scary, funny, surprises... well done to all involved, don't miss it." Ruth
"Fantastic show last night! Wonderfully dark and disturbing (and funny in parts)! Well done to all the cast and crew on a superbly staged show. Trick or treat yourself to a ticket while you can…" Lisa
"[A] testament to [Richard] Hand as a director is the sheer talent and versatility of his cast. It is rare to see such a strong ensemble, but here a group of just fifteen manage to fully flesh out the world of six different plays. The multi-roling demanded to achieve the vast tonal differences of the shows is met with aplomb by the actors." Niamh Duncan, UK Theatre Network [click here for full review]
"The pieces are performed by a fifteen-strong ensemble, with many appearing across the pieces – Shem Jacobs gives several contrasting, skilful performances, with Alexandra Evans also putting in multiple impressive appearances." James Goffin - Cultivated [click here for full review]
"Wonderful throughout. Edgy, thought-provoking - well done!" First night audience member comment
"It's brilliant. The best thing I've ever seen at Sewell Barn!" Clint
"Loved every minute of it, you created such a great atmosphere too." Penny
***
Finally, a very special set of reflections from an expert in this field, Alex Zavistovich.
"As the AD of The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, I’m lucky enough to have been in the theatre in Norwich [for] opening night yesterday, when this reviewer saw this wonderful show, curated and directed by long-time Poe Theatre collaborator Richard Hand. I’m honored to be hosting a talk-back following [Friday's] show. Poe was a huge influence on the Theatre du Grand Guignol. In fact, in 1903 the theatre even mounted an adaptation of "The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether." If you live anywhere near Norwich (UK), you don’t want to miss this spooky and fun evening of classic horror theatre."
Alex also followed his review with a very kind email to the Artistic Directors:
"Your Grand Guignol evening was an important event for horror theatre fans and practitioners. Thank you so much for your cordiality and hospitality.
The Sewell Barn theatre space is lovely. It’s everything that has ever drawn me to the stage. The intimacy is a true advantage for drawing in the audience, and really heightens the experience. I’m sure that’s true no matter what is on stage.
I’m so impressed by the work done by the theatre to create an immersive experience — from the sign above the entry, to the hall of posters, to the little coffin ticket booth. Your team deserves credit for going the extra mile.
This show was a huge success in my opinion, and it was an honor to moderate a talk-back panel with the audience. Thank you for that especially.
I’m not overstating the importance of this show for our community of horror and suspense theatres. Having proponents from the UK, Italy and the US together under one roof led to discussion of future collaborations that we might not have had otherwise. It was a summit of sorts.
Once again, thank you for everything. You’ve started off your season with a bang, that’s for sure. Break a leg on the rest of the run, and all your shows to come."
****
PLEASE NOTE: the show contains graphic violence, horror effects, sexual content, including themes of child sex abuse. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU MIGHT FIND SUCH MATERIAL UPSETTING.
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