Release - Touring

We're delighted to announce that our Fringe First winning show RELEASE will be touring the UK in May and June 2012. To book tickets click on the links below:

24 May Dartington Hall

26 May Tolmen Centre (Constantine, Cornwall)

28 May Brook Theatre (Medway)

30 May – 2 June Arcola Tent (London)

6 June South Hill Park Arts (Bracknell)

7 June Cornerstone Arts Centre (Didcot)

8 June Mercury (Colchester)

9 June Square Chapel Arts Centre (Halifax)

11 June Burrel Theatre (Truro)

12 June Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (Cardiff)

13 June Corn Exchange (Newbury)

21 June Hat Factory (Luton)

22 June Oxford Playhouse (Oxford)

23 June Courtyard Theatre (Hereford)

Production
RELEASE explores the lives of three prisoners in their first few months after release, as they attempt to reconnect with the people and remnants of life they left behind.

At a time when two thirds of UK prisoners re-offend within two years, RELEASE fuses high energy physical theatre, an original score and mixed media to create an explosive insight into just how hard it is to go straight.

Prizes
Winner - Fringe First Award
Shortlisted - Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award
Shortlisted - Brighton Festival Fringe Emerging Talent Award

Reviews
‘A sharp, impeccably performed and blazingly impassioned piece of theatre…simply terrific’ **** The Times

‘Icon Theatre has created one of the most compelling and theatrically effective pieces of storytelling on the Fringe’ **** The Scotsman

‘A shining example of how to devise and perform multi-disciplinary theatre… An important piece of theatre… ***** Fringe Review

‘Stellar high energy, gritty performances, strikingly staged…a moving, forceful production’ **** British Theatre Guide

'One of the best Fringe performances of 2011' **** Edfest Mag

‘Artfully choreographed and perfectly executed’ ****Three Weeks

'Great cast and a really well put together show… We really enjoyed it’ BBC - CULTURE SHOW

For all reviews please see our reviews page.

Cast & Creative Team
Cast & creative team include Shane Shambhu (Ramanujan in Complicite’s A Disappearing Number), Verity Hewlett (Queen Victoria in Queen Victoria’s Men, Channel 4), Nancy Hirst as Director (Young Vic, Yvonne Arnaud & Soho Theatre), Dan Shorten as Projection Designer (Total Theatre Award Winner for Druthers, Precarious), Bettina Strickler as movement director (Protein Dance), Chris Warner as composer and Ola Animashawun as script mentor (Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre & Head of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme). For full team and biogs please see the show website www.releaseinfo.org

Production History
The production was created through a two year process of research and interviews with ex-offenders, probation officers, criminologists and hostel managers, as well as site visits to hostels, prisons and probation offices. It has had development support from the South Hill Park Arts Centre, the Brook Theatre Chatham, the Toynbee Studios, an R&D award from Arts Council England South East and a work-in-progress showing at the Young Vic.

It was premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2011 at the Pleasance Dome.

For more information see the RELEASE website.