We Happy Few productions, named by the DCist as one of the Best Small Theatre Companies of 2015, will bring one of Shakespeare's most epic plays to life this Spring: PERICLES. In classic We Happy Few style, the production will focus on actor-driven theatricality. A cast of seven will portray more than twenty characters in this laser-focused 90-minute PERICLES, using physical storytelling to create not only the action, but the world of the play. PERICLES runs May 16 - June 8 at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.
Careening between sea storms, high courts, bawdy brothels, palace intrigue and cases of mistaken identity, We Happy Few tackles one of Shakespeare's broadest and most perplexing works. A sweeping story of adventure, passion, and loss, PERICLES examines the will of the human spirit to endure all obstacles no matter how weighty or unlikely. In WHF's signature style, an ensemble of seven actors will inhabit over twenty characters, create far-off worlds, and bring the overwhelming power of nature to the stage in a story that asks if humankind can ever truly be the masters of fate.
Founded in 2012 by Hannah Todd and Raven Bonniwell, We Happy Few is committed to expanding and emboldening the audience's relationship to enduring stories, reawakening classic texts for both new and seasoned audiences. We Happy Few has established itself as one of Washington D.C.'s best small theatre companies (the DCist, 2015) by nurturing a creative environment that thrives on ensemble collaborations with some of the nation's most promising emerging theatre artists. WHF's flagship production of a six actor, 90-minute HAMLET premiered at the 2012 Capital Fringe Festival to great acclaim, exploring the idea that the entire play unfolded in the title character's mind. WHF's production of HENRY V last spring was hailed as "a fascinating, resonant, and important new take on a known work" (Broadway World). DC Metro Theater Arts declared that We Happy Few's work is "a new approach to Shakespeare you will not want to miss."
PERICLES is presented at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 7th St SE) located in the Eastern Market neighborhood, Washington, DC. Performances are May 16 - June 8: Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30, with two pay-what-you-will previews on May 16 and 17 and one pay-what-you-will Saturday matinee on May 26 at 2pm. The industry night is on Monday, June 4. Opening night is Friday, May 18 and Press Night is May 19.
Tickets are available at https://whfpericles.brownpapertickets.com or linked through the We Happy Few website, www.wehappyfewdc.com.
Videos