Download become a Friend! - The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company was founded
in 1997 and began touring in 1999. It is led by Pete
Talbot, who trained in commedia dell’arte with the
maestro Antonio Fava at the Scuola Internazionale
dell’Attore Comico in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Our shows - which are inspired by and deeply rooted
in the commedia - are performed both indoors and
outdoors and we produce plays for both adults and
children.
The Rude Mechanical
Theatre Company
Original Commedia dell’Arte for
Contemporary Audiences
Our acting style uses large comic and often acrobatic
movement and physical jokes called lazzi and burli,
much of it part of a tradition which is hundreds of years
old, but using Pedrolino style white faces - pantomime
blanche (rather than leather masks) - and bright
coloured vibrant ‘cartoon-ised’ costumes. We literally use the slapstick or battoccio, but our work is not
‘merely slapstick’.
Poetic solutions to storytelling are never far away and
through mime, ‘sound texturing’ and devices of our own
we are constantly looking to exploit the poetic, fantastic
and absurd. Nor do we regard ourselves as a ‘heritage’
company - English nor Italian. We use tools from the
tradition - as and when we see fit - to produce new
work. Fava calls this use of tradition to create contemporary work commedia parodia.
Artistic Director - Pete Talbot
To keep up to date with news of our future productions,
including tour dates and advance tickets, please visit:
www.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk
or follow us on:
Facebook: facebook.com/RudeMechTheatre
Twitter: @RudeMechTheatre
“It’s a pleasure to see a company so expertly making good
21st century theatre firmly based in an old art form which
is such an important strand in the history of our industry.”
The Stage Magazine
Help keep The Rudes’ on the
road...become a Friend!
Help keep The Rudes’ on the
road - become a Friend!
With large numbers of grants from funders being
withdrawn from the arts, we more than ever need the
direct support from people who care about what we do to
keep us on the road and producing work into the future.
In 2013, for the first time in the history of the company,
we finally moved into our own dedicated studio and
office space, which is allowing us to develop new indoor
and outdoor shows and tour more than once a year - one
of our long-term goals.
By becoming a Friend you will be backing us in
developing new work, reach new audiences and helping
demonstrate to arts funders how much our community
touring is really valued.
In return we send you:
•a welcome pack and membership card
•regular newsletter throughout the year
•exclusive information about our new projects
•fascinating background on the commedia dell’arte
•special offers and discounts on Rudes’ merchandise
•invites to special events such as our Season Launch
•Party and meet our fabulous actors.
“Their sheer energy and commitment to performance
put The Rude Mechanicals on a level of their own - we
had an immensely talented troupe of actors give us a
traditional theatre form with a contemporary political
edge. Politics and Prosecco, al fresco on a sunny
evening in rural Sussex. Think of it as Brecht meets
Glyndebourne…” Fringe Review
“Commedia dell’arte – the tradition that gave us Mr
Punch and the foundations of pantomime – is a rare
discipline, even in Italy. But the Rudes have made it their
own.” Jenny Gilbert - The Independent
You’re all such a breath of fresh air. Our chums weren’t
sure what to make of it all at first but soon got the hang
of things and left as prophets! Terry, Worth Matravers
Legacy Giving
A growing number of people are helping to ensure the
things they care about have a secure future by deciding
to leave a Legacy gift in their Will.
No matter how large or small, this is incredibly important
to us, and is a wonderful way of enabling us to continue
what we do best. As we are a registered charity (no.
1064399), no inheritance tax is payable on the amount
of your gift. Therefore, it is worth bearing in mind that
after providing for your loved ones, instead of paying tax
to the Inland Revenue you can leave a tax-free gift to a
charity whose work has given you enjoyment over the
years.
There are three main ways to support The Rudes’ in your
Will:
•A Residual Legacy, which is a share or a percentage of
your estate
•A Pecuniary Legacy, which is a fixed amount of money
•Specific gifts or bequests, such as property or stocks
and shares
If you already have a Will and would like to include a
gift to The Rudes’, you can make a straightforward and
inexpensive amendment, or codicil, arranged through a
solicitor.
Should you decide to remember The Rudes’ in your Will,
we would be very grateful if you could let us know, as
this will enable us to thank you for your generosity and
allow us to keep you, or someone close to you, informed
and involved with the theatre.
All information that you supply will be treated in the
strictest confidence, and does not involve you in any
binding commitment. To discuss your legacy, please call
01323 501260 to ask one of our team about making a
gift.