“This fierce retelling of an old classic needs to be seen”
CVV Magazine, Canada
“An Orwellian portrayal of Britain’s underbelly that slices like a rusty razor”
Victoria Times Colonist
Other Theatre shows:
Fat Sex - Steve Larkin’s body... of poems and songs! showcases some of the highlights of a glittering career spanning nearly two decades, that has seen often hilarious, occasionally poignant performances enthuse audiences world over.
A contemporary theatrical adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s celebrated novel in which the tragic heroine is reinvented for the 21st century as a teenage boy from a Newcastle council estate who is found to be descended from a famous Romantic poet.
Written and performed by Steve Larkin, immersive audio-scape designed with Chris Full, dramaturge from Lizzy McBain.
“Bring a pocket full of tissue before you embark on this emotional journey and prepare to leave stunned and inspired by the power of Larkin’s spoken word.
Perhaps the only thing more tragic than this story would be missing this performance.”
Edmonton Sun, Canada
Vue, Canada
Theatrical trailer
TES is a contemporary theatrical adaptation of Thomas Hardy's celebrated novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles in which the tragic heroine is reinvented in the 21st Century as a teenage boy from the wrong side of the tracks who is found to be descended from a famous Romantic poet.
It is the creation of British writer and performer Steve Larkin, his second spoken word theatre piece following the success of 'N.O.N.C.E.' in 2011.
Spoken word theatre is a rapidly growing genre described by Lemn Sissay as:
"a piece of theatre by a spoken word artist more likely a poet which is scripted and directed with theatrical sensibility maintaining the poets integrity."
TES looks at Hardy's themes of historical determinism and the erosion of social mobility in the Victoria era and re-examines them in contemporary post-industrial Britain.
"It’s fascinating following the threads of Hardy’s tale as Larkin reweaves them." CVV Magazine
The show has, so far, enthralled audiences whether they be familiar or unfamiliar with the original. A spoken word story version was devised orally with directorial support from New York storyteller Martin Dockery to premier at The Victoria Fringe Festival in 2013 where it was a critical success:
"one of the best shows at the fringe" Victoria Times Colonist, Sep 2013
In 2014 TES was developed as part of an Underconstruction Theatre residency at The Old Fire Station Theatre in Oxford, UK.
Steve worked with dramaturge Lizzy McBain and Olivier Award-nominated sound designer Chris Full to create an expertly crafted immersive audioscape to enhance the theatrical experience of the intense and intriguing narrative:
"An expertly designed soundscape makes the audience feel as if they are almost lost in his memory with him" - Edmonton Sun
The fully developed one-man show which combines multiple character acting, dramatic storytelling, powerful performance poetry, and the new audio-scape toured Canadian fringe festivals in Regina, Winnipeg, and Edmonton in the summer of 2014 receiving astounding critical responses:
Regina Fringe Review: "gripping, moving and occasionally hilarious"
CBC Manitoba, 4 stars: "remarkable storytelling"
Edmonton Sun, 4 1/2 stars: "prepare to leave stunned and inspired by the power of Larkin’s spoken word"
Vue Weekly, 5 stars: "One of the best shows at this year's fringe, no doubt"
Contact: steve@stevelarkin.com or 07906 885 069
N.O.N.C.E.
An under employed artist lands a job as a ‘poet-in-residence’ at high security therapeutic prison. Follow him into every dark corner helping dangerous criminals escape... through creative writing.
NEXT SHOWS:
Buxton Fringe July 23-25
Edinburgh Fringe, Underbelly, George Sq 5-30 Aug 13:15
