Hijinx (Cardiff) – in association with Blind Summit (London) and Wales In Edinburgh – are bringing Meet Fred, a snapshot into the life of a potty-mouthed puppet with a feisty personality who fights prejudice every day, to Summerhall for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016, from 5 to 25 August
NB – Contains strong language and puppet nudity
“Prejudice against puppetry is the only acceptable form of prejudice” – David Sefton, artistic director, Adelaide International Festival
MEET Fred. He is just a regular guy who wants to get on in life. He wants a good job and to settle down with a nice girl. The only problem is that Fred is a two-foot tall cloth puppet and day-to-day life has many dependency issues when everything you do relies on three other guys being with you at all times.
After a run-in with the DWP (Department for Work and Puppets), when threatened with losing his PLA (Puppetry Living Allowance), Fred’s life begins to spiral out of his control.
Meet Fred is an original exploration of what it means to be different, an outsider trying to make his mark in a world in which he needs a lot of help.
With wit and dark humour, it exposes the ridiculous situations some of the most vulnerable in our society encounter when their support is taken from them, exploding the myth that “we are all in this together”.
“Striking visual inventiveness – both funny and poignant” - BritishTheatreGuide.info
“A highly entertaining, moving and brilliantly produced piece of theatre” – Wales Arts Review
“The puppetry here is sublime” – Arts Scene Wales
Hijinx are one of the UK’s leading inclusive theatre companies. Expect something edgy, surprising, sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes hilarious, sometimes beautiful or ugly, sexy or plain offensive, but always with a cast that includes artists with a learning disability.
Blind Summit are one of the UK’s leading contemporary puppetry innovators. Their shows, The Table and Citizen Puppet, have enjoyed huge success in recent years, both at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and on extensive national and international tours.
Meet Fred is part of the Wales In Edinburgh programme 2016 funded by Arts Council Wales.
Hijinx is revenue-funded by Arts Council Wales.
Edinburgh previews for Meet Fred:
The Other Room, Cardiff – Thursday 23 June to Saturday 02 July 2016 – www.otherroomtheatre.com
Useful URL links:
Website: www.hijinx.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hijinxtheatre
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HijinxTheatre #MeetFred
Video clips:
Meet Fred trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avLfU_r7ceU&feature=youtu.be (NB Contains strong language)
Fred does Earth Song, by Michael Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o7SH0QbPo8
Fred dancing to Smooth Criminal, by Michael Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1rc53iJvcg
Performance information, ticket prices and Box Office details
Venue details:
The Old Lab, Summerhall (Venue 26), 1 Summerhall EH9 1PL
Performance time and dates:
Time: 15.55 (17.00). Running time – 1 hour and 5 minutes
Friday 5 – Tuesday 25 August 2016 (not 15, 22)
Ticket prices:
£5 – 5, 6, 7 August 2016
£10.00 / £6.00 concession / £6.50 each for 2 adults and 2 children – 8 – 14, 16 – 21, 23 – 25 August 2016
2 for 1 deal – 8 and 9 August 2016
Box Office details:
Summerhall: 0131 560 1581 / www.summerhall.co.uk
Edinburgh Festival Fringe: 0131 226 0026 / https://tickets.edfringe.com/box-office
Age guidance: 14+ contains strong language, adult themes and puppet nudity.
ENDS
Media contacts for Meet Fred:
For further information, images and to arrange interviews and review tickets please contact:
Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: paddy@littlehousemedia.uk.com | M: 07913 951717
Zoe King | Hijinx | E: zoe.king@hijinx.org.uk | T: 02920 300331
For downloadable images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/69g1cfcij2plh0a/AAD6ZyZTIGfhQt-FJWv1WB5Ra?dl=0
About Hijinx
Hijinx are a professional theatre company based at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff who tour small-scale theatre throughout the UK and Europe.
What makes Hijinx different is that their casts always include actors who have learning disabilities. The ability of these effortlessly-talented performers is at the heart of every show they produce, creating work that is utterly absorbing, surprising and provocative.
They call it ‘inclusive theatre’ because it makes much of the skills and raw talent of people who often get overlooked in today’s world and gives them a platform to make and perform stunning theatre alongside actors who don’t have disabilities.
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Littlehouse Media contact details…
Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Email: paddy@littlehousemedia.uk.com
Website: http://www.hijinx.org.uk/meet-fred/
