SIZE OF COMPANY
4–7 on the road

SCALE OF VENUE
Small-, middle- and large-scale

PERMANENT STAFF
Joint Artistic Directors
John Nicholson
Javier Marzan
David Sant

ARTISTIC POLICY
To create devised comic theatre. Peepolykus (pronounced “people-like-us”) has rapidly established an international reputation for making people laugh. The company’s work combines anarchic verbal comedy with slapstick and sublimely ridiculous clowning. It is physically strong, visually inventive and suitable for all ages. The company’s shows are highly entertaining and accessible (some can be performed in Spanish if required).

REVIEW EXTRACTS
‘The West End has too few funny shows for us not to treasure this offering from Peepolykus.’ London Evening Standard

‘In comedy terms, what Peepolykus can do is seemingly limitless.’ Variety

‘Peepolykus are unfailingly hilarious.’ The Guardian

CURRENT PRODUCTIONS
Hound of the Baskervilles A terrifying and comic adaptation of the classic Sherlock Holmes story. This production has been written by Steve Canny (Complicite) and John Nicholson and is a co-production with West Yorkshire Playhouse and Sam Mendes’s Neal Street Productions. Directed by Orla O’Loughlan (Royal Court) and designed by Ti Green (National Theatre) for mid-scale touring. In 2007 the production transferred to London’s West End for a very successful 10 week season. (120 mins, including interval, 3 on stage, 7 on road.)

All In The Timing Written by award-winning American writer David Ives, whose one-act comedies present a world where chimps attempt to write Shakespeare, new languages are made-up on the spot, faux-pas can be edited from conversations and Trotsky can live out multiple versions of his last day. Expect the unexpected! (80 mins, 3 on stage, 4 on the road.)

Let The Donkey Go Reconstruction of the Rajmanistan Secret Service’s most celebrated case to date... Slapstick, songs, astounding dexterity with digestive biscuits... and absolutely no donkey! Award-winning show that has toured to over twenty countries since 1996. (75 mins, 3 on stage, 4 on the road.)

FUTURE PRODUCTIONS
Peepolykus is currently working on new mid-scale commissions with The Lyric Hammersmith (a show about spies) and The National Theatre (a musical). The company is also developing ideas for a large-scale community project, set on beaches, which has “inventions” as its theme. It is intended that the first incarnation will provide a template, allowing for the project to be re-conceived in any given beach location, using the local community.

WRAP-AROUND
As well as running workshops and residencies, the artistic directors have a great deal of experience in creating new devised shows with young people.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL WORK
2006 Bangladesh, Brunei, Colombia, The Philippines (All in the Timing)
2005 Greece, Hungary, South Korea (Let The Donkey Go/All In The Timing)
2004 Australia, Barbados (Mindbender)
2003 Belgium, Finland, Iran (Let the Donkey Go)

TOURING AVAILABILITY
Details on request