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The Cabinet of Madame Fanny Du Thé
by Riddlestick Theatretheatre, music-and-opera
A riotous musical comedy celebrating curiosity and imagination with a miscellany of tall tales handpicked by you.
about the production
Audiences are invited to meet eccentric 18th century explorer, Fanny, and to take their pick from her cabinet of curiosities. For whichever curio they choose, Fanny and her servants perform the elaborate tale behind it, taking the audience on a voyage of hilarity. From battling with pirates to partying with Marie Antoinette, Fanny’s allegedly done it all. But while she tells her outrageous stories, somebody's on the way to bring her down to earth. Featuring stories and original songs in a mixture of genres, played on guitar, cello and accordion, the show is a riotous celebration of curiosity and storytelling.
about the artist
We are a troupe of actor-musicians who play with past and present, fiddle with fact and fiction, and toy with traditional forms of tale-telling. We aim to make audiences laugh and think and tap their toes with our rambunctious and inventive shows. Our first show, The Dead of Night in the Middle of Nowhere, toured to the Cardiff Fringe, Brainchild Festival, and The Room Above, Bristol in 2016-17. Our second show, The Cabinet of Madame Fanny Du Thé, was listed in The Guardian's 'Best Shows at the Edinburgh Festival 2018'.
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stage dimensions
width: 4 metres
height: 0 metres
depth: 2 metres
We have no set and our only tech requirement is a general lighting wash. We can perform without lighting too, we have performed this show outdoors with no tech before at Brainchild Festival.
As a company we strive to make theatre that appeals to a very broad range of people. This show has attracted a range of audiences who have loved it, from teenagers to pensioners. Made for adults, but suitable for ages 12+.
"Riddlestick’s raucous comedy folk musical is a gem of the free fringe. The audience choose the order of the night from Madame Fanny’s (Kate Stokes) cabinet of curiosities, each of the five fables riotously funny and artfully told. Through tales of pirates, milkmen and mad scientists, the ensemble create a vibrant world of adventure. Their energy is boundless, the script fiercely intelligent and the original live music bound to stay dancing through your head. Stuffed in a cramped attic on the edge of the festival, Madame Fanny is worth the trek. Riddlestick’s second show is a late-night riot."
"There’s a timelessness to Riddlestick Theatre’s storytelling in their musical comedy The Cabinet of Madame Fanny du Thé. The cast of six brings together the welcoming dynamic of medieval minstrels, the adventurous spirit of 19th-century fiction, and the forward-thinking ideals of the modern day into a wonderful series of tales that span many different genres. . . . Riddlestick have created a joyous hour that speeds by at great pace, without a dull moment within. This is creative, imaginative theatre at its very best – and even the greatest cynic will likely be left feeling thoroughly entertained and amused."
"There are whimsical delights to be found in 'The Cabinet of Madame Fanny Du Thé'. Through a whirlwind of tall tales and song, Riddlestick Theatre had me hanging onto their every oddity. . . . As the play states in my favourite song of the evening: “Curiosity is my ideology”. So, if you are curious, it is well worth taking a peak in 'The Cabinet of Madame Fanny Du Thé'."
Open to offers/box office splits.
