Multi-award-winning director Emma Rice’s latest production Blue Beard will open at HOME Manchester in just two weeks. The production will run as part of HOME’s Spring 2024 season.
The production, with her theatre company Wise Children returning to HOME Manchester for the third time, promises a music-fuelled feminist revenge filled with comedy, tragedy, romance and horror.
The piece finds Blue Beard the Magician making hearts flutter, pupils dilate and things vanish. Cards, coins, scarves … and women. All gone without a trace. But he meets his match when his young bride discovers the dark and murderous secret behind him.
Blue Beard is narrated by a chorus of nuns and features stage illusions, magic tricks and more.
Speaking about Blue Beard, Wise Children’s Executive Producer Poppy Keeling said, “Blue Beard is the third show we’ve brought to HOME, and the relationship has really grown since our first visit, back in 2019 with Angela Carter’s Wise Children.
“This time we’re co-producing: merging our different skills and experiences to create this new devised piece together, and cooking up something really special for audiences across Manchester.
“Inspired by a folk tale, Blue Beard is a searing exploration of sex, power and violence – all told with Emma Rice’s trademark physicality and wit. It has a cracking score, performed live by incredible musicians and performers, and breathtaking set design. Like all of Emma’s shows, it’ll be a great night out with a powerful political punch.”
Blue Beard stars Stu Barker, Mirabelle Gremaud, Stephanie Hockley, Patrycjz Kujawska, Adam Mirksy, Katy Owen, Robyn Sinclair, and Tristan Sturrock.
The production is directed and written by Emma Rice with a creative team including Stu Barker (composer), Vicki Mortimer (set and costume design), Simon Baker (sound and video design), Malcolm Rippeth (lighting design) and Etta Murfitt (movement director and choreographer).
When does Blue Beard run at HOME Manchester?
Blue Beard runs at HOME Manchester from 13-24 February 2024.
