Desperate Men Theatre Company is a street theatre company founded by Richie Smith and Jon Beedell in 1980, and is the UK's longest-running
street theatre
Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping centres, car parks, recreational reserves, college or university c ...
company. Now based in
Bristol, England
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in S ...
, the company aims to produce original, accessible comic theatre, and offers a variety of street animations, bespoke work,
and creative consultancy.
In 1985, Smith and Beedell appeared in
Vivian Stanshall and
Ki Longfellow-Stanshall's
Old Profanity Showboat production of
Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera
''Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera'' is an English musical with book, music, and lyrics by Vivian Stanshall and Ki Longfellow-Stanshall written for the Crackpot Theatre Company aboard the The Thekla, Old Profanity Showboat in Bristol, England. The show i ...
. Smith played the part of Buster and Beedell played Screwy. Richard Smith reprised his role in the 1988
London production at the
Bloomsbury Theatre
The Bloomsbury Theatre is a theatre on Gordon Street, Bloomsbury, in the London Borough of Camden, owned by University College London. The Theatre has a seating capacity of 547 and offers a professional programme of innovative music, drama, come ...
.
Desperate Men have a history of producing work that deals with social and environmental issues, such as
littering – the Rubbish Heads,
– Eco-Pirates and the bicentenary of
Charles Darwin's birth – Darwin and the Dodo. In 2007 they were artistic leaders on the Severn Project,
one of the UK's largest outdoor arts projects.
Desperate Men have also worked internationally, including in
Beirut and in
Hong Kong.
They also developed a project as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad in the South-West of England, and featured in the 2014 and 2016
Wye Valley River Festivals.
wye valley river festival 2016 at wyevalleyaonb.org.uk
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The name 'Desperate Men' comes from a poem by John Donne
John Donne ( ; 22 January 1572 – 31 March 1631) was an English poet, scholar, soldier and secretary born into a recusant family, who later became a clergy, cleric in the Church of England. Under royal patronage, he was made Dean of St Paul's ...
– 'Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men...'
References
* Commedia dell'arte: A Handbook for Troupes By John Rudlin, Olly Crick. Published by Routledge, 2001. , 978-0-415-20408-8
* Street Theatre and Other Outdoor Performance. By Bim Mason. Published by Routledge, 1992. , 978-0-415-07050-8
* "In situ, European artists on the road", CARNETS DE RUE collection, editions l’Entretemps, 207 p.
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Street theatre
Theatre companies in the United Kingdom