Gigantic Beard That Was Evil: Production Photos Released

Bristol Old Vic Theatre present 'The Gigantic Beard that was Evil". Photo: Chris Cooper

Bristol Old Vic Theatre present ‘The Gigantic Beard that was Evil”. Photo: Chris Cooper

Bristol Old Vic Young Company has released production photographs from the dress rehearsal of their stage version of  Stephen Collins‘ best-selling graphic novel The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil which opens today, 7th January.

“Beneath the skin of everything is something nobody can know
The job of the skin is to keep it all in and never let anything show”

Every day, Dave goes to work in his calm, safe office. In the evening, he listens to the Bangles’ Eternal Flame on repeat and, to keep a lid on untidy dreams, he sits and sketches the neat people on his tidy street.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre present 'The Gigantic Beard that was Evil". Photo: Chris Cooper

One day, Dave’s hairless face sprouts a beard so big that it causes a national crisis. Nobody can tell what has caused this beard-outbreak, but when chaotic untidiness sweeps the island of Here, everybody begins to realise that the beard, and Dave, must go…

Bristol Old Vic Theatre dress rehearsal of 'The Gigantic Beard that was Evil" on January 6th 2015. Photo: Chris Cooper

The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil, published by Cape in 2013, was the first book by cartoonist and illustrator Stephen and was praised by the likes of Raymond Briggs and described as ‘a future classic’ by the Observer. It became the first graphic novel to be shortlisted for Waterstone’s Book of the Year and won the Edinburgh Festival’s inaugural 9th Art Award. Stephen previously won the Jonathan Cape/Observer Graphic Short Story Prize and his work has appeared in many publications worldwide, and he contributes regular comics to the Guardian Weekend and Prospect magazine.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre present 'The Gigantic Beard that was Evil". Photo: Chris Cooper

 

Directed by former JMK Assistant Director Bursary recipient and Made in Bristol graduate, Stephanie Kempson, who previously worked at Bristol Old Vic as Assistant Director to Sally Cookson on Jane Eyre, this world premiere, designed by Hannah Wolfe, uses music and ensemble theatre to tell a fairy tale for our time.

Verity Standen, celebrated composer at the helm of smash hits Mmm Hmmm and Hug, provides her usual blend of ingenious and thrilling atmospheric music for the production – from the Bangles to original compositions, Verity has created a soundscape that captures the melancholic grey-scale of the graphic novel on which is this production is based.

The Gignatic Beard That Was Evil - Stage PlayThe Gigantic Beard That Was Evil 7th – 10th January 2015 Bristol Old Vic Studio 7.30pm, 2.30pm (Saturday matinee) £12/£8 (plus booking fee). Box Office: 0117 987 7877 | bristololdvic.org.uk/giganticbeard

Read our news story about The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil stage play

Photos: Chris Cooper/ShotAway



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