It's festival time at Cygnet Theatre

It’s the first week in June and its Festival time at Cygnet Theatre!

Cygnet is hosting seven visiting companies, giving thirteen performances spread across the first week of June between 1st and 6th.

All the companies have local connections and all seven are bringing brand new plays.

Festival@Cygnet kicks off with a fun exploration of festival life in the 70’s, from Substance & Shadow, whose Tribes & Tribulations is a humorous and poetic take on the mud, crowds, bands and junkies of free festivals.

The variety of subject and configurations of the companies is splendid, spanning some fascinating topics – cradle to grave – from the inspiring Friction a much needed exploration of the effects of post-natal depression – described by writer Cally Hayes as ‘a love-story’ and giving moving voice to this much misunderstood topic.  Another show exploring often taboo territory is Spit and Sawdust’s one-man show She Ain’t Heavy – She’s my Mother, drawn from personal experience of growing up with an anorexic mother, which also promising to be a full-rounded experience spanning joy as well as pain.  Moving and brave, these performers are expressing the experience so often hidden and suffered alone and transforming it into drama which can bring healing to all.

Where would a summer festival be without lovers?  From the ‘star-crossed’ to the hopelessly wayward – Shakespeare’s lovers will be brought to vibrant life by Sun and Moon theatre.  This delightful duo is making a first visit to us – and from the taster last week, it’s going to be great fun.  Don’t miss it!

For those not so successful lovers and girls negotiating those tricky years from teenager to woman, Freya Bardell is performing her one-woman show charting her university years – ranging from good-time gal to wiser woman – in poetry, fun and fooling.  Promises to be an entertaining and Happy Hour!

Happy Birthday Hetty charts the relationships and reactions to relatives of 100 yr old Hetty, humorously and beautifully embodied by Jan Hookway in Lorrie Hilson’s latest play.  Wendy Carter directs this show, after her successful sell-out visit last year with Motherland.

The final stage of life is celebrated in full style by Plymouth’s Cyclone Theatre, making their third visit to Cygnet with 603 Miles a comedy charting the experience of two brothers fulfilling the last request of their father Michael O’Doherty – entailing an urn, an envelope with money in it, and a set of instructions.

Be there to find out all about it.

Tickets for all performances £8.

To find out more – visit our website www.cygnettheatre.co.uk or email info@cygnettheatre.co.uk or ring 01392 277189.