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Tank
by Breachtheatre
Dark, dreamy multimedia show about a woman's attempt to teach a dolphin English - and humankind's desire to colonise the Other.
about the production
In 1965, an American scientist lived with a dolphin for ten weeks to try and teach him to speak English – part of a NASA-funded experiment into human-animal communication. Condemned by the wider scientific community as an elaborate circus trick, Margaret's lessons with Peter remain a controversial episode in the space race between the two Cold War superpowers. Breach's multimedia show stages verbatim transcripts from the experiment amidst conflicting narrative voices, psychedelic dance routines and a cowboy shoot-out - reimagining the story as a metaphor for the difficulties of encountering the "Other" and the politics behind the stories we tell.
about the artist
Breach is a multimedia theatre company founded by theatre-makers Billy Barrett and Ellice Stevens, and video artist Dorothy Allen-Pickard. This core team collaborates with actors to create socially engaged, formally innovative live performances that blend subtle humour with a sharp political edge. Breach’s debut show The Beanfield won a 2015 Total Theatre Award, and its follow-up Tank won a 2016 Fringe First Award. Breach is proud to be part of the New Diorama Theatre's Emerging Companies Scheme and to publish its shows with Oberon Books.
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stage dimensions
width: 4 metres
height: 4 metres
depth: 4 metres
2 microphones
Projector (and screen or back wall)
Simple lighting rig
Sound and video operated through Qlab
The show has been enjoyed by a range of audiences from age 14 upwards, but may particularly appeal to those interested in scientific research, cultural studies, sociology, linguistics, or 20th Century American history.
“Tank may be about colonisation, but it wears such themes with a light touch in a cleverly pitched, often comic, multi-layered show”
"Wow, is all I can say"
"Funny, dark, and strangely dreamy "
- Age recommendation 14+
- No strobe lighting
- Keen to discuss relaxed / extra-live performances with venues
- Have previously performed captioned shows with Stagetext
- Breach offers educational workshops for young people on political theatre and performing history
- The company directors have previously given talks to university students, theatre audiences and arts patrons on its work
- Minimum guarantee of £700 for one performance, £400 for additional performances, preferably against a box office split
- Cost varies according to venue's technical capabilities
- Open to negotiation
