Exiled theatre
Encyclopedia
Exiled Theatre is a British theatre company that was formed at the University of Winchester
in 1994.
) was performed at the university's Arts Centre in January 1994.
By September 1994 the company had moved to Cirencester
in Gloucestershire
where they expanded and performed their first promenade show, Shades in Time, in the grounds of Cirencester Abbey
. Following this was a revival of Some God, Some Angel, Some Devil at the Brewery Arts Theatre the following year.
As part of the 1995 Gloucester
Festival, Exiled Theatre put on two outdoor performances. The first was Shades in Time – Martyrs, a play about the life of Bishop Bonner (portrayed by Robert Addie
) performed in the grounds of Gloucester Cathedral
. The second was entitled Shades in Time – The Docks – the Real Story and was performed at the newly-restored Gloucester Docks.
In late 1995, Lambert again collaborated with Addie on a joint project entitled Acts of Revenge and an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe
's "The Tell-Tale Heart
" at the Axiom Centre for the Arts in Cheltenham.
, a prequel to King Lear
. This was followed by Into the Mist, a play that chronicled the life and ministry of Saint Columba
, whilst playing him as a villain.
In 1997, the company relocated to Cheltenham. Lambert worked as a writer
with two other companies, Voice and Tilt, who produced Radix Malorum (an adaptation of The Pardoner's Tale) and Ship of Fools respectively. The year finished with a commission from Gloucestershire County Council for a tour of "The Ninth" (a play about the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Legion).
In 1998, Exiled Theatre produced Ugga, a "play about a boy with a paper bag on his head". The Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard described the play as "entertaining [...] with a strong message, using easily accessible characters". The same year, the company produced Loving Chopin.
University of Winchester
The University of Winchester is a British public university primarily based in Winchester, Hampshire, England. Winchester is a historic cathedral city and the ancient capital of Wessex and the Kingdom of England.-History:...
in 1994.
History
The company was established by Chris Lambert to promote new writing. The first play Some God, Some Angel, Some Devil (taken from a quote from Julius CaesarJulius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
) was performed at the university's Arts Centre in January 1994.
By September 1994 the company had moved to Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
where they expanded and performed their first promenade show, Shades in Time, in the grounds of Cirencester Abbey
Cirencester Abbey
Cirencester Abbey in Gloucestershire was founded as an Augustinian monastery in 1117 on the site of an earlier church, the oldest-known Saxon church in England, which had itself been built on the site of a Roman structure. The church was greatly enlarged in the 14th century with addition of an...
. Following this was a revival of Some God, Some Angel, Some Devil at the Brewery Arts Theatre the following year.
As part of the 1995 Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
Festival, Exiled Theatre put on two outdoor performances. The first was Shades in Time – Martyrs, a play about the life of Bishop Bonner (portrayed by Robert Addie
Robert Addie
Robert Alastair Addie was an English actor who was best known for playing Sir Guy of Gisbourne in the television series Robin of Sherwood.-Career:...
) performed in the grounds of Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
. The second was entitled Shades in Time – The Docks – the Real Story and was performed at the newly-restored Gloucester Docks.
In late 1995, Lambert again collaborated with Addie on a joint project entitled Acts of Revenge and an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
's "The Tell-Tale Heart
The Tell-Tale Heart
"The Tell-Tale Heart" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe first published in 1843. It follows an unnamed narrator who insists on his sanity after murdering an old man with a "vulture eye". The murder is carefully calculated, and the murderer hides the body by dismembering it and hiding it under the...
" at the Axiom Centre for the Arts in Cheltenham.
Touring
In 1996, the company staged two tours. The first extensive tour was for Edmund, Son of GloucesterEdmund (King Lear)
Edmund or Edmond is a fictional character and the main antagonist in William Shakespeare's King Lear. He is the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, and the younger brother of Edgar, the Earl's legitimate son. Early on in the play, Edmund resolves to get rid of his brother, then his...
, a prequel to King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
. This was followed by Into the Mist, a play that chronicled the life and ministry of Saint Columba
Columba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...
, whilst playing him as a villain.
In 1997, the company relocated to Cheltenham. Lambert worked as a writer
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
with two other companies, Voice and Tilt, who produced Radix Malorum (an adaptation of The Pardoner's Tale) and Ship of Fools respectively. The year finished with a commission from Gloucestershire County Council for a tour of "The Ninth" (a play about the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Legion).
In 1998, Exiled Theatre produced Ugga, a "play about a boy with a paper bag on his head". The Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard described the play as "entertaining [...] with a strong message, using easily accessible characters". The same year, the company produced Loving Chopin.