Soop Productions in association with Giant Olive presents:

The Flying Monk

15th June - 10th July
Tuesday-Sunday (excluding Mondays)

Bookings:

 

08444 771 000 

Directed by
Vincent Adams

Designed by
Francine Huin-Wah

Devised by
Nathan Chapman, Sarah Hutchinson, Peter Henderson, Sian Green and Henry Oastler

Music by
Denise Baugh
Kevin Jacks

Te Flying Monk
 
 
 

 

The year is 1010, his vision is 20:20, but his chances are 50/50

As Malmesbury Abbey prepares anxiously for a royal visit, Brother Eilmer keeps nipping up the bell-tower with a book about Daedalus and some food for the jackdaws. Meanwhile, bored with plundering the same old towns along the Bristol Channel, the Vikings have decided to take a trip further inland. As the villagers meet the pillagers, the followers of Odin find the church-bell appealing, and Ethelred tries not to swap his kingdom for a Norse. But where on earth is Eilmer?

The News Logo

The Flying Monk

At the Havant Arts Centre

Published Date:
18 September 2009

By James George

Not so long ago I had the pleasure of reviewing Soop's first show, The Overcoat, so I was curious to see if they could maintain that level of inventiveness and creativity with second outing The Flying Monk.

Once again this is a devised piece with input from the cast under the eye of director Vincent Adams and, once again, it is, on so many levels, a brilliant night out.

The airborne monk of the title is one Eilmer of Malmesbury, an historical figure celebrated in stained glass in Malmesbury Abbey. But did he really fly?

The truth is irrelevant. Soop's production assumes he did and weaves a story as to how and why. It is clever in both concept and execution, laugh-out-loud-funny, genuinely sad and hugely uplifting.

Henry Oastler is an actor we don't see often enough. His Eilmer treads a dangerous line between character and caricature, but always comes down firmly on the side of character.

The rest of the cast, having created the script between them, guard it jealously and play it with gusto.

New, original local theatre.

The Flying Monk Rehearsal Photo

 

Facebook Link

Please click here to visit 'The Flying Monk' on Facebook.