DUTCH ELM CONSERVATOIRE in "PRISON"DUTCH ELM CONSERVATOIRE in "PRISON"
In 2006, following a hugely successful preceding year, Dutch Elm Conservatoire took a completely new show, PRISON, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and then subsequently performed it in London and Belfast.
Welcome to Prison. 5 inmates, 12 sketches, Zero narrative integrity. Set in Detention Facility 41, the most hellish jail ever constructed. Be startled by an inmate with the voice of Sammy Davis Jr and the hair of Brian May. Be unsettled by Furious P, a 6'8" Gangsta flirting modishly with Islam. Be moved by a pet butterfly called Mr Wendel. With tender homages paid to the work of Victor Hugo, Stephen Sondheim and Warren G, this theatrical and unapolegitically silly show explores themes of imprisonment through rap, breakdance and good old-fashioned chatting. Penal Correction was never so misunderstood.
This was Dutch Elm's third consecutive year at the Edinburgh Fringe, following the previous year's Perrier Award nomination and subsequent sell-out shows in the West End and their debut UK tour.
CREDITS
Written and performed by Stephen Evans, Jim Field Smith, Rufus Jones, Renton Skinner and Jordan Long (with Jim Howick in Belfast). Directed by Ed Curtis. Promoter: Ed Smith / Matthew Harvey at Phil McIntyre Entertainment. Technical Manager: Gordon Isaacs. Lighting Design byJames Whiteside. Prop Design by "Big" Jim Eldred. Costume Design by Sam Perry and Laura Venables. PR by David Burns at Burning Issues.
Presented by Phil McIntyre Entertainment by arrangement with PFD and AHA. Supported by Universal Studios and 8works.
DUTCH ELM CONSERVATOIRE in "CONSPIRACY"
August 2005: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh
October 2005: Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave, London
January 2006 - March 2006: National UK Tour
This was Dutch Elm's second full-length show, and their second visit to the Edinburgh Festival, returning to the Pleasance Courtyard with a more narrative sketch show. In CONSPIRACY, the five-man team played over 25 characters, as their small, feckless investigation agency faces hard times and has to take all the work it can get. Could our heroes Gene, Ian, Callaghan, Mr Harrison and Brown solve the Moon Landings conspiracy? Find out who shot JFK? Who stole the Turin Shroud? Who killed Diana... Kurt Cobain... Rod Hull?
Following a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Festival, where they scooped a prestigious Perrier Award nomination, the show then transferred to the West End as part of the Perrier Award season. In January 2006, they took the show out on the road for their first national tour, starting in Coventry and ending in Brighton in March.
CREDITS:
Written and performed by Stephen Evans, Jim Field Smith, Rufus Jones, Jordan Long and Renton Skinner. Directed by Ed Curtis. Promoter: Ed Smith / Matthew Harvey at Phil McIntyre Entertainment. Technical Manager: Mike Chalmers. Lighting Designer: James Whiteside. Edinburgh PR by Claire Walker. Tour PR by Katie Phillips at The PR Office.
Presented by Phil McIntyre Entertainment by arrangement with PFD and AHA. Supported by Universal Studios
DUTCH ELM CONSERVATOIRE
August 2004: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh
October 2004: Hen & Chickens, London
November 2004: Pleasance Theatre, London
This was Dutch Elm's debut show at the Edinburgh Fringe, described by the Scotsman as "the envy of its peers ... a confident whirlwind of tightly choreographed and visually stylised gaggery".
After four weeks of playing to good reviews and enthusiastic audiences, the group returned to London and played transfer dates at the Pleasance London and the Hen & Chickens. The show also led to a pilot commissioned by Radio 4 as well as appearances on BBC Radio 1's The Milk Run.
CREDITS
written and performed by Stephen Evans, Jim Field Smith, Rufus Jones, Jordan Long and Renton Skinner. Directed by John Hoggarth. Promoter: Ed Smith / Matthew Harvey at Karushi. Technical Manager: Damian Weymouth. Edinburgh PR by Katie Phillips at SMP.
Presented by Karushi by arrangement with PFD and AHA. Supported by Universal Studios.
DUTCH ELM CONSERVATOIRE
January 2004: Soho Theatre, London
A one hour show, containing much of the material that was to make up the group's Edinburgh debut later in the year.
The show played to total sell-out audiences for four nights at the Soho Theatre as the opening act of the Soho Blast Festival No2.
CREDITS:
Written, performed and directed by Stephen Evans, Jim Field Smith, Rufus Jones, Jordan Long and Renton Skinner. Promoter: Ed Smith / Matthew Harvey at Karushi.
Presented by Karushi by arrangement with PFD, AHA and International Artistes.
DUTCH ELM CONSERVATOIRE
PRESENTS...
August - September 2003: Latchmere Theatre, London
Following a successful run of shows earlier in the year, The Dutch Elm Conservatoire returned to Battersea's Latchmere Theatre in August for a new season, having spent the intervening period working up new material at various gigs around the London circuit.
This time, they coralled an excellent set of guest acts to appear in the hour-long show, including Oram & Meeten, Robin Ince, Philip Brodie, Gareth Tunley, The Plastic Cowboys and Karl Minns. The show played to very healthy audiences - including several sell-out performances - for six consecutive Sundays.
CREDITS:
Written, performed and directed by Stephen Evans, Jim Field Smith, Rufus Jones, Jordan Long and Renton Skinner. With Oram & Meeten, Robin Ince, Philip Brodie, Gareth Tunley, The Plastic Cowboys and Karl Minns.
DUTCH ELM CONSERVATOIRE
February - March 2003: Latchmere Theatre, London
The Dutch Elm Conservatoire made their first ever appearances early in 2003, performing this Sunday night residency at the Latchmere Theatre in Battersea. The show ran for six weeks, and was one hour long with no supporting acts. every Sunday night for five weeks, starting 16 Feb 2003.
CREDITS: written, performed and directed by Stephen Evans, Jim Field Smith, Rufus Jones, Jordan Long and Renton Skinner.