We love
Living Spit.
They make poorly researched historical comedy-theatre shows about people that at least one of them vaguely looks like. Which have music in. That they write. Most people like them. And laugh. In an appropriate way.
New show!!!!
The Odyssey
– select availability October & November 2019. Ideally minimum 3 night runs.
That’s right, folks! Living Spit and Kate Dimbleby are doing Homer’s Odyssey! D’oh!
One of the greatest works in western literature. Its scope and beauty have entranced mankind for nearly three thousand years. A story of redemption, isolation and a desperate yearning for love.
Kate Dimbleby: Internationally reknowned, stupifyingly talented jazz singer and raconteur, whose timeless style hearkens back to the golden age of entertainment. A real touch of class.
Living Spit: a pair of scruffy chancers from a small seaside town just south of Bristol who specialise in performing puerile two-man knockabout musical comedy shows and, up till this point, have just about got away with it.
Now these three elements crash together, endearingly melding into a hideous theatrical monstrosity, with an ugliness to rival even the mythical Cyclops himself.
Will Kate’s reputation be forever besmirched by the idiotic duos shambolic shenanigans?
Will Howard and Stu’s mojo be mislaid in the mire of Kate’s enrapturing elan?
Will the sound of Homer spinning in his grave become too too distracting for the audience?
There’s only one way to find out.
Kate Dimbleby has a great track record of exploring the real or imagined lives of women forgotten - Peggy Lee, Bessie Smith, Dory Previn - and has been attracting rave reviews for her latest album ad show Songbirds:
“The damnedest thing I heard all week was this … the a cappella vocal virtuosity of Kate Dimbleby with her stunning album Songbirds … this is an artist at the tope of her game”
Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 Music
“Artist of the Week: Strong life-affixing colours, a poetic song cycle, a singer-songwriter who refuses to be boxed, a free spirit”
Clive Davis, Sunday Times.
Living Spit’s previous main house co-production - Frankenstein with Salisbury Playhouse - attracted equally glowing reviews:
“This ribald reworking of the gothic horror classic is a beguiling rib-tickler … the sense of mischief and sheer silliness are difficult to resist"
The Times
…. and their original studio hit 'Six Wives of Henry Viii' has now re-toured four times by popular demand “Brilliant comic acting … honest, unpretentious, beautifully scripted comedy… as self-effecting comedy goes this is premier league stuff”
Venue
Musical director and additional performer will be Naadia Sheriff , long-time collaborator with Kate.
"I have been following Kate Dimbleby's career for some two decades, and have always been struck by her willingness to take risks. She and Naadia Sheriff are thoughtful musicians who have produced work which, while it combines elements of jazz, folk, blues, cabaret and pop, transcends all of those categories and reaches out to audiences of all ages. Although they never neglect the need to entertain, they are adept at raising important political and cultural issues without lapsing into lecturing or sloganeering. I am sure their new song cycle project will continue in that vein.”
Clive Davis, The Times & Sunday Times
Press quotes
‘World-class actors at the top of their game’
The Financial Times Review for ‘One Man and his Cow’
‘The best 100 minute comedy show outside of the Edinburgh Fringe’
Western daily Press on ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’
‘A terrific production, gloriously silly and worth watching’
The Post on ‘Adolf & Winston'
★★★★ “A glorious celebration of silliness, fully appreciated by a packed home crowd.”
The Stage on Elizabeth I: Virgin on the Ridiculous
‘Cleverly written, beautifully acted, and, dare I say it, educational. Howard and Stu are a double act to keep a beady eye on...both actors perform with bounds of enthusiasm, wit and technical skill; their versatility and range is outstanding.’
Kneehigh’s Emma Rice on The Six Wives of Henry VIII
‘Brilliant comic acting....honest, unpretentious, beautifully scripted comedy. As self-effacing comedy goes, this is premier league stuff’
Venue
