The Marlowe Studio Announces Fall 2017 Season

Kanye West, Henry VIII and The Simpsons all provide inspiration for the autumn season at The Marlowe Studio, Canterbury.

Shakespeare's The Tempest (Tuesday 19 September) begins this season's line-up of plays, restaged to reflect modern issues of homelessness. This amateur production (from Phoebus Fire) will donate all profits to the Catching Lives Charity.

In Our Hands (Monday 25 September) uses innovative puppetry, striking sets and an original score to transport audiences out to sea, telling the story of fisherman Alf as he navigates a changing world in the fishing industry.

Finding Joy (Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 October) from Vamos Theatre, UK's leading-full mask company, explores love and relationships between an 83 year old and her rebellious grandson. This production is also accessible for hearing and Deaf/deaf audiences.

The latest Made By The Marlowe Production, Kanye The First, is a funny and original drama about identity, guilt, contemporary culture and the second coming of Kanye West. Developed through The Marlowe's Roar programme for new writing, it comes to the studio from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 October (there will be a British Sign Language performance on Thursday).

Masters Of Mystery (Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 October), a new musical, comes to the studio as part of Canterbury Festival, and follows two best friends with a gift for solving unusual crimes.

Remote (Wednesday 25 October) is a mechanical theatre game, fusing an interactive script and real-time responsive sound design. The audience acts together to make decisions for the character, examining the politics of choice and decision making.

The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (Thursday 2 November) gives an alternative view of the infamous king and his many relationships and promises to be an unforgettable, ill-researched lesson in cross-dressing Tudor history!

Formby (Friday 3 November) follows George Formby's rise from awkward stable boy to one of Britain's biggest stars, and features many of his classic hits. Formby is played by Ewan Wardrop. The next play, Leaf By Niggle (Wednesday 22 November), brings to life the book by JRR Tolkienm and follows painter Niggle in a one-man show.

What Once Was Ours (Thursday 23 November) is a powerful new production for young people created against the background of Brexit. The show is made in consultation with young people across the country.

Imbalance (Saturday 25 November) uses acrobatics and dance to explore our relationship with technology. Ex-stuntman Jan Patzke and ex-gymnast Olivia Quayle use exciting physical techniques to explore these contemporary issues.

Jekyll And Hyde (Thursday 7 December) brings Robert Louis Stevenson's classic to life in a one-man show, and Stories To Tell In The Middle Of The Night (Tueday 12 December) plays on the concept of a live late-night radio show, and includes tales of everything from love, obsession, technology and disconnection.

Shows for all the family to enjoy also join the new season with The Owl And The Pussycat from Let's All Dance (Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 October). The Dream Factory (Thursday 26 October), is a new sensory puppet show, whilst The Abominable Snowman (Saturday 16 December), Santa In Love (Tuesday 19 December) and The Snow Mouse (Thursday 11 - Saturday 14 December) offer an alternative for families in the festive period.

The sell-out Laid Bare Cabaret (Saturday 28 October) returns with a Halloween Special, hosted by Joe Morose, promising the very best variety acts, including aerial acrobatics and fire, to burlesque and music.

Sixth Sense brings magic to the studio with Luke Jermay and his incredible mind-reading powers on Saturday 2 December.

Comedians in the form of an Irish hip-hop comedy freestyle duo, Abandoman (Saturday 30 September), bring their new show to Canterbury which changes every

performance as they tell the story of their rising fame. This fictional autobiography has entertained more than 10,000 people in a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe Festival run.

Ellie Taylor (Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats) is deciding whether she should breed in her new show on Friday 27 October, Matt Forde (Have I Got News For You, 8 Out Of 10 Cats) on Wednesday 8 November and Justin Moorhouse (Live At The Apollo, Phoenix Nights) on Sunday 10 December also add to this season's line-up.

The Simpsons Taught Me Everything I Know (Tuesday 7 November) is a love letter to the world's greatest TV show, as Yianni Agisilaou brings anecdotes, impersonations and facts from a lifetime spent quoting, referencing and learning from The Simpsons.

The Harry And Chris Show (Saturday 9 December) bring stories of love and laughter from these two best friends after a sell-out debut show in Edinburgh 2016, with their unique mix of comedy, melody and poetry.

The Alternative Comedy Show (Tuesday 26 September and Wednesday 29 September) also returns, allowing audiences to discover new comedians with September's line up including Finn Taylor, Alfie Brown, Yuriko Kotani and Ivo Graham. The November line up is still to be announced.

Folk music dominates, beginning with Rachel Newton (Thursday 26 October), founding member of folk bands The Furrow Collective, The Emily Portman Trio performs solo with a plethora of folk instruments. She is also currently BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Musician Of The Year.

Peggy Seeger, described as one of the "Queens Of Folk", is set to entertain with memorable music performances and stories from her remarkable career on Monday 30 October. She is joined by her two sons on the tour.

Edgelarks, made up of award-winning folk duo Philip Henry and Hannah Martin, mix British traditional music and Indian classical slide guitar on Saturday 4 November.

Chris Wood, winner of six BBC Folk Awards, also performs, weaving tradition and contemporary parallels with songs reflecting real life events in English speaking history on Tuesday 28 November.

For performance times, ticket prices, and to book, call the Box Office on 01227 787787, or go to marlowetheatre.com (discounts available). Please note, age recommendations are in place for some shows.

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