Dirt [Contained] Theatre Company to Present Fernando Arrabal's GARDEN OF DELIGHTS

Dirt [contained], in association with Long Island City Artists, has announced that it will present GARDEN OF DELIGHTS, a surreal journey by Fernando Arrabal, directed by Maria Swisher, that dives head first into the psyche of a tortured artist, July 26th - August 13th at Plaxall Gallery (5-25 46 Avenue, Long Island City). www.dirtcontained.com

GARDEN OF DELIGHTS is a surreal play that takes its audience on a fantastical journey following protagonist Lais, a charming, yet self-loathing actress, through a bizarre look at her sadomasochistic experience of love and art. Isolated in her home with only a caged beast-like partner and flock of infantile sheep to distract her from her troubled past, she spirals down into painful memories and erotic fantasies that blur the line between reality and imagination.

Mr. Arrabal is founder of the "Theatre of Panic", a surrealistic and sadomasochistic mingling of the Theatre of Cruelty and Theatre of the Absurd, which is designed to both punish and delight audiences. Dirt [Containted]'s bold physical production treads the line with this interactive adventure.

LIC-A (Long Island City Artists) will curate an exhibition specifically themed to Dirt [contained]'s immersive production of GARDEN OF DELIGHTS. Both events will take place in The Plaxall Gallery's 8,000 sq ft warehouse space. This uniquely blended and theme-driven experience will couple the visual and dramatic arts. LIC-A's curated art show will open on July 20th, with open gallery hours Thursday evenings from 6-10, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons between 11-6.

The cast of GARDEN OF DELIGHTS features Tana Sirois, Adam Giannone, Olivier Renaud and Maria Swisher.

Fernando Arrabal (Playwright) is a Spanish writer, film-maker, and novelist. He is a founder of the Théâtre Panique ("Panic Theatre") a movement inspired by the God Pan and the provocative work of Antonin Artaud. Arrabal's work is known for creating surreal worlds where characters behave like children but perform terrible acts of cruelty, staging events which shock audiences and purge them of negative energies in pursuit of raw beauty. " He is a man who plays. He conceives art as a game, and the world is turned into a game the very moment he touches it," - Milan Kundera.

MARIA SWISHER (Director) is an actor, director and theatre-maker originally from Missouri. Maria studied a NYU and graduated with a first class honors degree from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Her science fiction play, The Last Eden, was produced with support from the Arts Council England. After graduation, Maria was an actor and producer in Growtoski-based Craft Theatre Company, London. Her short play, The Trip, was produced at the Lyric Hammersmith and was shortlisted in 2015 for the John Petherbridge Award for New Writing. Directing credits include: Real Boy (a production of Pinnochio devised in Augusto Boal's Joker Method), Shoes (Part of the Liverpool Young Everyman Playhouse Writer's Program), Ionesco's The Chairs (co-director) and The Last Eden (movement direction).

The design team includes AV design by Assistant Director JP Musni, scenic and costume design by Giannina Gutierrez. The production manager is Charlotte Meyers and the stage manager is Jihee Choi.

Performances of GARDEN OF DELIGHTS are on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8PM through August 13th.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.dirtcontained.com.

ABOUT DIRT [CONTAINED] THEATRE COMPANY
Dirt [contained] Theatre Company makes provocative, socially conscious theatre. The juxtaposition of the company name reflects the two sides of our work. They strive for eloquence in absurdity, and authenticity in chaos. They explore a future of inspired dreams and terrifying nightmares. Dirt [contained] Theatre Company is made up of Tana Sirois and Maria Swisher. They began working together in 2008 during our University training at The Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts in England. Immediately after graduation, they received support from The Arts Council England for a production of their science fiction play, The Last Eden, written by Swisher and directed by Sirois at The Kazimier, Liverpool, UK. Dirt [contained] performed as a visiting company at the invitation of the Liverpool Shakespeare Festival's Richard III, Come and Have a Go.

In 2015 they moved the company back to the states, premiering a New York debut production of Robert Shearman's Sunday Times Award Winning play, Easy Laughter, at The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory.

ABOUT PLAXALL AND LIC ARTISTS, INC.

LIC Artists, Inc. (LIC-A), is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts advocacy organization founded by artists in Long Island City. LIC-A began producing open studios, art exhibitions and events in 1985, and has provided professional development opportunities for its member artists for 32 years. LIC-A is expanding the audience for art produced in Queens through its increased program of exhibitions, classes, and special projects and events. (www.licartists.org)

Plaxall, a plastics manufacturing company based out of LIC, has loaned warehouse space to serve as an art gallery and performing arts venue with the intention of creating an exciting and vibrant community arts center. The Plaxall Gallery is currently run by LIC-A, (Long Island City Artists).

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