Chickenshed to Bring THE RAIN THAT WASHES to Brighton Fringe, May 24-26

Chickenshed's The Rain That Washes will play the Marlborough Theatre, 4 Princes Street, Brighton, running 24 May -26 May 2014 from 6pm to 7.15pm as part of the 2014 Brighton Fringe Festival.

Ticket price: £9 / £7. To book: Brighton Fringe Box Office: 01273 917272 / email: boxoffice@brightonfringe.org or visit http://boxoffice.brightonfringe.org/theatre/6305/the-rain-that-washes.

Instantly plunged into a young man's compelling story of growing up in turbulent Zimbabwe, we live and breathe his extraordinary and dramatic journey from innocence to escape, finally returning to his homeland to witness Mugabe's greatest betrayal. Ashley Maynard enacts Christopher's extraordinary story and the characters that he meets along the way in this warm, funny and at times brutal and shocking play.

The Rain That Washes is inspired by Zimbabwean Christopher Maphosa's true life story of leaving his country at 14 years old to join the revolution against white rule. Dave Carey, who first met Maphosa at Chickenshed more than 13 years ago, has dramatised their fascinating conversations creating a provocative, tense and dramatic story. The play is set in the early years of Mugabe's Zimbabwe and gives a fresh relevance in the face of the forthcoming elections this summer.

Dave Carey (playwright) has collaborated on various productions including Standing in Pairs at Harare International Festival of Arts and with Border Crossings on their latest international show, Consumed. He has worked in Moscow and Shanghai and this will be his fourth Edinburgh Fringe Festival production including Chickenshed's award nominated "as the mother of a brown boy..."

Christopher Maphosa (on whom the play is based) grew up in Rhodesia and became part of the revolutionary force trying to overthrow the minority white regime of Ian Smith. He ran away to join ZAPU who sent him to Bulgaria to be educated. Following persecution at the hands of the Mugabe's notorious Fifth Brigade from 1983-1987, Christopher became one of many Zimbabweans living in exile, arriving in the UK in 2000.

Kieran Fay (director) Trained with Jaques Lecoq in Paris. He has worked internationally as a theatre and film director.

Ashley Maynard (actor in this one-man show) is a young actor who trained at Chickenshed and is now a member of the Company.

Chickenshed is a theatre company that aims to create outstanding theatre that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change. They have regularly toured their social-documentary brand of work around the UK including some of the hardest to reach communities, tackling pertinent social issues.

Remaining Tour Dates and Venues:

- Marlborough Theatre, Brighton Fringe Festival 24 May -26 May

- Riverside Studios, London W6, 23 and 24 June

- Rye Festival 17 September - 19 September

- Civic Centre Barnsley 25 September

- Square Chapel Halifax 26 September

- Greentop Community Circus Sheffield 27 September

Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that works with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to create outstanding and inspiring theatre that changes lives. www.chickenshed.org.uk

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