Les Enfants Terribles to Present ERNEST AND THE PALE MOON and DR LONGITUDE'S MARVELLOUS IMAGINARY MENAGERIE at Edinburgh Festival, Starting 30 July

In their 13 year history Les Enfants Terribles have gone from performing in 50 seat venues on a shoe-string budget to working consistently in large scale venues - building a considerable critical and commercial following - and touring the globe with their fresh and innovative products. As such, Les Enfant Terribles have now built a reputation for being one of the most visually exciting British theatre companies working today.

Central to this staggering development has been an ongoing love affair with the Edinburgh Festival. Having helped the company develop their work by providing a platform for both development and recognition, Les Enfants Terribles have returned on an annual basis since Artistic Director Oliver Lansley founded the company in 2001.

In 2014 they bring a double bill to the city, restaging their celebrated gothic glory Ernest and the Pale Moon and revealing the charms of Dr Longitude's Marvellous Imaginary Menagerie at the Festival for the first time.

ERNEST AND THE PALE MOON

Venue: Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance One, 60 Pleasance EH8 9TJ

3rd - 25th AUGUST 2014 (NOT 12th) @ 16.30 (1HR)

'Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, ticked the clock as Ernest Hemel sat, quiet and still in the darkened corner of his apartment block. Watching, waiting...'

Adapted for the stage in association with Bristol based company Pins and Needles Productions.

Inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred Hitchcock, 'Ernest and the Pale Moon', is a spine-chilling tale of obsession and murder from the team behind the multi award winning show 'The Trench'.

Ernest spends his days watching the beautiful young woman who lives in the apartment opposite. Upon seeing her with another man he is thrown into a jealous rage and driven to murder, though all is not what it may at first seem and slowly Ernest's guilt sends him on a spiralling descent into madness. The piece contains narrative twists and turns, live music, inventive design and physical storytelling to provide a thrilling and terrifying experience.

Written by Artistic Director, Oliver Lansley a published playwright who also works extensively in television co-creating/writing ITV2's 'FM' and numerous other projects including 'WHITES' which was shown on BBC2 and starred Alan Davies. He was named a 'Broadcast Hotshot's' by Broadcast magazine and won the 'Multi-talented' award at Channel 4's 4-Talent Awards.

"A gloriously gothic production about obsession" - THE TELEGRAPH

"A highly atmospheric piece of gothic story-telling... a compelling and macabre account of obsession, immurement and murder" - THE STAGE - CRITICS' CHOICE (MUST SEE SHOW 2009)

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az8AYrPjX_k

DR LONGITUDE'S MARVELLOUS IMAGINARY MENAGERIE

Venue: Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance Beyond, 60 Pleasance eH8 9TJ

30th JULY- 24th AUGUST 2014 @ 13.00 (1HR)

Roll up, roll up, for the most 'magnifical', 'tremendible' and 'fantasticulous' experience in town!

From the acclaimed, award winning creators of The Terrible Infants and The Trench, Theatre Company, Les Enfants Terribles return to Edinburgh for their 13th consecutive year with their new show, written by Anthony Spargo and Oliver Lansley.

Ever wanted to count a Decapus's, legs? Or wondered what a Whistling Pank eats? Would you like to catch a glimpse of the fabled 'Massive Paw', or lick a Tresillian Toad? Or perhaps see a cow that looks like Brian May? Then you've come to the right place!

Dr Longitude and his team of "experts" are here to guide you through a puppet-packed, ludicrously lyrical and magically musical tour of the Imaginary Menagerie's finest exhibits.

Let the Zany Dr. Longitude and his strange traveling players regale you with their mesmerizing stories of wit, virtue and courageous endeavours all bursting from their weird and wonderful imaginations.

Journey with them as they venture through sizzling safaris and snowy Siberia. Float among the clouds and plunge into the murky depths of the sea as they search for fascinating animals both exotic and rare.

But why are they telling their stories and what's lurking behind their façade? Enter and be entertained by the world's weirdest wonder emporium!

THE LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES AWARD

THE HUMAN ZOO THEATRE COMPANY: THE HIVE

Venue: Jack Dome, Pleasance Dome, Potterow, 1 Bristo Square, EH8 9AL

30th JULY - 25th AUGUST 2014 @ 12.10

The Les Enfants Terribles Award is designed to help an exciting new company producing original work be able to bring their show to the Edinburgh Festival - one of the greatest showcases for new theatre in the world.

Over the last 13 years, LET have become a firm festival favourite, winning huge critical acclaim and a host of awards - and despite their work now touring extensively, transferring to London's West End and travelling all over the world they have maintained their presence and dedication to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. LET hope to try and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit amongst young companies, helping them achieve their goals by rewarding them for their artistic achievement, ambition and desire to produce original work.

This year's winners The Human Zoo Theatre Company were inspired to start their own company after seeing the Les Enfants Terribles company perform. As recipients of this year's prize they receive a performance slot at The Pleasance - one of the Festival's most prestigious venues, a £1,000 cash injection and valuable mentoring from the Les Enfants Terribles theatre company.

Catch them as they begin their Edinburgh journey with The Hive at the Pleasance. See www.pleasance.co.uk/event/hive for more detail.

www.thehumanzootheatrecompany.co.uk

** For more information, interviews and images please contact Rebecca Byers at Target Live

(e) Rebecca.byers@target-live.co.uk (t) 020 3372 0962 (m) 07813 902 937.

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