A MUCH-LAUDED show which won rave reviews at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year will be staged in Marchington next week.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is being performed in the village by Townsend Productions as part of the Live and Local scheme.
This classic piece of pre-First World War working class literature written by Robert Tressell has been adapted for the stage with a fine mix of comedy routines and first-class acting.
The story follows a group of painters and decorators as they renovate a town house for Mayor Sweater.
It traces their struggle for survival in a complacent and stagnating Edwardian England.
These workers are the ‘philanthropists’ who throw themselves into back-breaking work for a pittance so as to generate profit for their masters.
This vibrant and lively show is brought to life by two hugely talented actor-musicians Fine time Fontayne and Neil Gore.
The performance is packed with comic routines, audience participation (including ‘The Great Monkey Trick’) and uplifting songs and hymns from the era.
The show receives mass acclaim when it was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe with the Fringe Review saying it was ‘a well produced, brilliantly acted theatre of substance’.
Townsend Productions are actor and musical director Gore, actor and designer Fontayne and producer and director Louise Townsend.
Townsend has been working as a theatre professional for 16 years as a director, casting director, company manager and stage manager. Most recently she has been directing youth and community theatre projects.
Both Gore and Fontayne are experienced theatre actors, with Gore a regular performer throughout his career in many productions of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist.
Meanwhile, Fontayne’s acting work encompasses all forms with television work on such shows as Coronation Street, EastEnders and Casualty and film credits including British hit 24 Hour Party People.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists will be performed at Marchington Village Hall in The Square on Tuesday at 7.45pm with doors open from 7.15pm.
The show is expected to last two hours including an interval and tickets costing £9 are available from Phil and Grace Hodges on 01283 820583 or from Marchington Village Shop.
