Full Company and UK Tour Announced For Told By An Idiot and Birmingham Repertory Theatre's ALL YOU NEED IS LSD

All You Need is LSD is a world premiere new play by Leo Butler, directed by Paul Hunter and Stephen Harper, premiering at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, 4-13 October (press night: Tuesday 9 October), before going on a tour of the following: Unity Theatre, Liverpool; Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol; The Lowry, Salford; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry,

Joining Told by an Idiot's Artistic Director Paul Hunter, Associate Idiot Stephen Harper co-directs All You Need Is LSD, his first directing role with the company. A co-production from Told by an Idiot and Birmingham Repertory Theatre, the cast is Annie Fitzmaurice, Jack Hunter, Sophie Mercell and George Potts. The production premieres at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and tours to Liverpool, Bristol, Salford and Coventry.

All You Need is LSD is an exhilarating new comedy written by acclaimed playwright Leo Butler, after he accepted an invitation from former government drugs tsar Professor David Nutt to be a guinea pig in the world's first LSD trials since the 1960s.

Part history, part wild fantasy, All You Need Is LSD playfully dissects a drugs debate that won't go away and examines the freedom we have to make our own choices in life, and death. Exploring Professor Nutt's infamous claims about the therapeutic benefits and supposed risks of 'recreational' drugs, Leo questions if the world still needs a 'psychedelic revolution.'

Leo Butler, playwright: 'This play takes inspiration from a lifetime of my experiences - from a misspent youth through to the responsibilities of fatherhood, and from being a guinea pig in medical trials to actually creating the play itself. I was delighted that The REP was as excited as me to find out what this play could be and, along with The REP, Told by an Idiot were the ideal fit in bringing it to life. I can't wait to see it unfold on stage - the next step in an already extraordinary journey.'

Paul Hunter, Artistic Director, Told by an Idiot / co-director, All You Need Is LSD: 'It is a joy to create All You Need Is LSD with such a great blend of experienced and fresh Idiots and to be working with The REP again - it feels like the perfect team to bring Leo's unpredictable, absurd and trippy play to the stage. Stephen Harper has been associated with Told by an Idiot for many years and I am delighted he is joining me to co-direct, and that fellow Associate Idiot, Annie Fitzmaurice, also forms part of the company. Jack Hunter and Sophie Mercell, who were introduced to the company in January 2018 during Let Me Play The Lion Too - our recent improvisational experiment with emerging disabled and non-disabled performers. It is great to continue a relationship with them, to welcome George Potts for the first time.'

Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director, Birmingham Repertory Theatre: 'The drugs debate is one that won't go away and All You Need Is LSD is a fascinating and poignant look at the issue that fits perfectly with our commitment to work that examines mental health. We're thrilled to be working with Leo to develop his latest play following our collaboration with him earlier this year on Woyzeck and I'm also particularly delighted to be partnering with Told by an Idiot in bringing Leo's exhilarating and original new comedy to life in Birmingham.'

The production is designed by Sophia Clist with Lighting by Alex Boucher and Sound / Composition by Sophie Cotton. Beth Kapila is Assistant Director. Tessa Walker, Birmingham Repertory Theatre's Associate Director is Creative Consultant.

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Tour:

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Dates 4 - 13 October 2018 at 8pm (9 October at 7pm); + 11 and 13 October at 2:30pm
Tickets birmingham-rep.co.uk / 0121 236 4455 / From £10

Unity Theatre, Liverpool
Dates 16-20 October 2018 at 7.30pm + 20 October at 2pm
Tickets unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk / 0151 709 4988 / £12 - £16 (£10.50 concessions)

Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol
Dates 1 - 3 November 2018 at 7.30pm; + 3 November at 2pm
Tickets tobaccofactorytheatres.com / 0117 902 0344 / from £12 (limited availability)

The Lowry, Salford
Dates 6 - 10 November 2018 at 8pm
Tickets thelowry.com / 0843 208 6000 / £12 (£10 concessions)

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Dates 15 - 17 November 2018 at 7.45pm + 17 November at 2.30pm
Tickets belgrade.co.uk / 024 7655 3055 / £12-14.75 (£9-£12.75 concessions)

Told by an Idiot have been creating the unexpected since 1993. The company explores the human condition through theatre that is bigger than life. They acknowledge the artifice of performance and make no attempt to put reality on stage, but they inhabit the space between laughter and pain, which exists in the real world. Their work is rooted in the live event and thrives on a sense of spontaneity and risk, celebrating the unpredictability of performance. Through playful collaborative writing, anarchic physicality and a comedic sensibility they create genuinely spontaneous experiences for audiences. Through their work on stage and through their Taught by an Idiot participation work they foster a sense of openness, curiosity and the desire to play. They consistently experiment with what art can be and who can be involved, and in doing so their work blurs the lines between artist, participant and audience. Their commitment to accessibility informs the entwined relationship between their productions and their participation work. Told by an Idiot take creative risks, they tell universal stories and they include everyone.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre's aim is to inspire a lifelong love of theatre in the diverse communities of Birmingham and beyond. As well as presenting over 60 productions on its three stages every year, the theatre tours its productions nationally and internationally, showcasing theatre made in Birmingham. The commissioning and production of new work lies at the core of The REP's programme and over the last 15 years the company has produced more than 130 new plays.

The theatre's learning and participation programme is the best of any cultural organisation in the city and in the past year The REP has engaged with 4500 young people and 2600 adults through its learning and participation programme equating to 30,000 individual educational sessions. The REP is also committed to nurturing new talent through its youth theatre groups, The Young REP, its professional artist development scheme, REP Foundry, plus a new initiative, FURNACE which offers local people opportunities to develop new talents.

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