Peepolykus Presents THE ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE APPRECIATION SOCIETY at The Traverse Theatre, Dec 4-22

The Traverse Theatre Company has teamed up Peepolykus to bring one of Edinburgh's best loved figures, Arthur Conan Doyle, back to life for a seasonal celebration. The Arthur Conan Doyle Appreciation Society takes the form of an illustrated lecture about life, death and the afterlife. Ideas of the rational collide with the supernatural and an evening presentation descends into farce, in typical Peepolykus fashion, as John, Javier and Gabriel get to grips with everything from fairies to particle physics.

This riotous show brings leading advocate for spiritualism, Arthur Conan Doyle, face to face with his rationalist creation, Sherlock Holmes, in a show fusing lecture, storytelling and Peepolykus’ trademark slapstick comedy, to explore some pretty big ideas.

The play is co-written by long-time collaborators, Steven Canny and John Nicholson, who have previously worked together on Peepolykus shows No Wise Men (co-produced with Everyman and Playhouse, Liverpool) and Spyski (co-produced with Lyric Hamersmith)and Marley Was Dead (BBC Radio 4). John also performs The Arthur Conan Doyle Appreciation Society with fellow Peepolykus artistic director, Javier Marzan and Scottish actress Gabriel Quigley.

Her second production for the Traverse will see director Orla O’Loughlin once again joining forces with masters of physical comedy, Peepolykus, following their 2007 hit spoof of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Steven Canny and John Nicholson. The production broke box office records at the West Yorkshire Playhouse before a West End run and thirty international tour dates.

The production features designs by Anthony Lamble, sound design by Fergus O'Hare, and lighting design by Philip Gladwell.

The Arthur Conan Doyle Appreciation Society runs from 6 December through 22 December following previews on 4 December and 5 December. Performances from Tuesday-Saturday are at 7:30PM. Matinees are at 2:30PM on Thursday, December 13, Saturday, December 15, Thursday, December 20, and Saturday December 22.

Preview tickets are £11 (£6 concession), Sunday-Thursday and matinee tickets are £15.50 (£11.50/£6 concession), and Friday and Saturday tickets are £17.50 (£15.50 concession). To purchase tickets, visit www.traverse.co.uk or call +44(0)131 228 1404.

This year’s Traverse Christmas show follows the Theatre’s 2011 sell-out production about David Hume and Adam Smith, The Tree Of Knowledge by Jo Clifford. The Traverse is delighted to continue in its now four-year tradition of offering an alternative show at Christmas time.

Peepolykus is among the UK’s most loved comic theatre companies, who have built a reputation for their unique brand of verbal slapstick, visual surprise and absurd scenarios. Their devised productions include: The Hound of the Baskervilles, No Man’s Land, Let the Donkey Go, I am a Coffee, Horses for Courses, Goose Nights and Mind Bender.

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