Metal Rabbit Productions' LARDO to Play the Old Red Lion, March 3-28

Metal Rabbit Productions, in association with Old Red Lion Theatre, presents Lardo by Mike Stone at the Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ. The production runs Tuesday 3rd March - Saturday 28th March 2015. Press Night: Thursday 5th March, 7.30pm.

There's a tsunami happening out there - people are clamouring for Lardo - it's Lardomania and yer won't be able to hold out for much longer.

Obese, girlfriendless and struggling to make his way, Lardo (Daniel Buckley) is determined to join Tartan Wrestling Madness - the glamorous bad boys of the Scottish wrestling scene. When his dream finally comes true Lardo surprisingly becomes an overnight sensation, but the massive highs and crippling lows of being a professional wrestler soon threaten to overwhelm this unlikely hero.

As his real life descends into something reminiscent of a wrestling storyline, Lardo has to decide what his priorities are, who he can trust, and whether he can retain his love for the sport that made him great. As always in professional wrestling, accounts must be settled in the ring...

Featuring (almost) real stunts, full-scale audience fight interaction (how often can you yell at someone double your size and get away with it?) and enough spandex to throttle a horse, Lardo is the ultimate steel-cage, no-mercy, royal-rumble of theatre for spring 2015.

Lardo is inspired by the resurgence of wrestling in the UK and its fanatical fan base. Powered by social media and the cult of celebrity, it examines how wrestling provides escapism from an increasingly sanitised world. However, as Lardo himself discovers, although his comic act can dominate the ring it may not be enough to deal with the realities of 'manhood' and the legacy of the past. This production promises to be a spandex-clad spectacle bringing the theatre of wrestling to the Old Red Lion.

Lardo sees director Finn Caldwell (The Elephantom, The Light Princess, War Horse) continue to give voice to his fascination with visual spectacle through live action. Presented by Metal Rabbit (Fiesta, Johnny Got His Gun), Lardo is a big, bold look at the most ridiculous sport of our time - those who make it, those who hate it and the crowds who adore it.

DETAILS:

Lardo by Mike Stone

Tuesday 3rd March - Saturday 28th March 2015 Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm
Saturday matinees, 2pm
Sunday matinees, 3pm

90 minutes

Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ, www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk.

The nearest underground station is Angel (on the Bank branch of the Northern line). The nearest rail station is Kings Cross St Pancras.

Tickets are available priced £14 (£12.50 concessions); Previews - £10

Available from Old Red Lion Theatre Box Office and www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk or 0844 412 4307

BIOGRAPHIES:

Mike Stone - Mike is originally from Wales and as a child also lived in Yorkshire and Scotland. After a short stint as an academic, Mike had a career in Banking for many years in the UK and Australia. He also has worked for Save The Children. He recently completed an MA in Playwrighting from Royal Holloway. Lardo is his first full length play.

Finn Caldwell - As a director Finn's work includes: The Elephantom (NT & West End). As director of puppetry and movement, Finn's work in theatre includes: The Light Princess (NT) and War Horse (NT, West End & internationally); Dream Space (Globe Theatre); Rubies in the Attic (Riverside Studios); Climate (Guildhall School of Music & Drama); Tom Thumb (Edinburgh Festival & tour - Fringe First-winner). Upcoming work includes Running Wild (Chichester Festival Theatre).

As a performer, he appeared in: Saint Joan, War Horse, Or You Could Kiss Me and Punchdrunk's Every Good Boy Deserves Favour at the National; Hamlet and Julius Caesar (RSC); Complicite's A Dog's Heart (La Scala); Blind Summit's Lowlife (LIMF); Madam Butterfly (ENO); Brighton Rock (Almeida); Elephant (BAC); Antigone (Old Vic); and Macbeth (Albery). Films include Alice and The Suicide Brothers.

Max Dorey - Max graduated from the Professional Theatre Design MA at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2012. He was a finalist for the Linbury Prize in 2013 and was a trainee/assistant designer at the RSC in 2013/14. Set and Costume Design credits include: Coolatully (Finborough Theatre) 2014; Sleight and Hand (Edinburgh Fringe) 2014; I Can Hear You (The Other Place at the Courtyard, RSC/Royal Court Upstairs) 2014; This is Not an Exit (The Other Place at the Courtyard, RSC/Royal Court Upstairs) 2014; Count Ory (Blackheath Halls) 2014; Black Jesus (Finborough Theatre) 2013; The Duke in Darkness (Tabard Theatre) 2013; Marguerite (Tabard Theatre) 2012; Disco Pigs (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School/Blue Crate Theatre) 2012; The Good Soul of Szechuan (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School) 2012; Macbeth (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School) 2012; and Phaedra's Love (Ravenrock Theatre/Holbeck Theatre/NSDF Scarborough) 2010.

Daniel Buckley - Daniel Buckley trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre Credits
Include: Standby Elder Cunningham, Original London Cast of The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales) BWW UK Nomination; Ushers: The Front of House Musical (Charing Cross), Loserville (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Garrick)- West End Frame Award; Lord of the Flies (UK Tour), Fresher (Pleasance Islington/Edinburgh Festival), Spring Awakening (UK Tour). Workshops Include: Fanatical (2014), Pinnoch1.0 (2014), West End Men (Vaudeville Theatre, 2013), Out There (2013). Cast recordings: Ushers: The Front of House Musical (2014). Daniel is featured on the MAD Trust West End Charity Single: Onesie Time. He has also recorded a concept album with James Bourne (Loserville) and Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) for their new musical Murder at the Gates.

Metal Rabbit Production - Metal Rabbit Productions was established in 2012 by George Warren. Its first production was Ernest Hemingway's Fiesta in February 2013, a co-production with Oiffy at the Trafalgar Studios, followed by Johnny Got His Gun in May 2014 at the Southwark Playhouse and national tour autumn, 2014. They have recently staged Neil Bartlett's A Christmas Carol at the Old Red Lion. The company is run by producers Martha Rose Wilson and George Warren. Supported by the Stage One Bursary for New Producers.

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