SIZE OF COMPANY
2–12 on the road

PERMANENT STAFF
Artistic Director
Ralph Oswick

General Manager
Helen Chamberlain

ARTISTIC POLICY
Natural Theatre Company takes accessible visual and verbal comic theatre to places where theatre does not normally occur, such as streets, shopping malls, foyers, boats, planes, trains, campuses, conferences, exhibitions, and festivals. The performances use recognisable comic characters in inappropriate or surreal situations. The work transcends language barriers and can change the audience’s perception of familiar public spaces. The company is renowned for its immaculate appearance and has virtually no technical requirements.

REVIEW EXTRACTS
‘A phenomenally successful tour... pure delight and enjoyment... many thanks for your professionalism and co-operation.’ British Council, Pakistan

‘Fast becoming a national treasure.’ Bath Chronicle

‘Street theatre re-invents itself.’ The Times

CURRENT PRODUCTIONS
High Street Bowling Club Dressed in crisp whites this jolly team will create a bowling green anywhere!

National No Smiling Day The British League of Pessimists are against anything and everything. The audience become the show as they attempt to make the protestors laugh.

Reds Stunning one-colour people with skin and clothing to match, posing like sculpture exhibits. They move slowly and deliberately, and carry colour co-ordinated objects.

Nudes Not really naked, but sporting body suits with the cheeky bits sewn on. They go about their everyday business unaware of their nakedness and oblivious of the reaction around them.

British Bobbies Directing the crowds as if they were traffic and keeping order. Alternatively Kissing Coppers with a PC and WPC deeply in love. Realistic uniforms add to the confusion!  

WRAP-AROUND
Natural Theatre can offer workshops in the art of visual street theatre and building comedy characters. These can be advanced for practitioners or simply fun for beginners and young people. The workshops can be tied in with a street theatre programme or can stand alone. Most of the workshops result in some kind of public performance. Workshops have also been used for team-building and can be adapted to be language oriented. The company’s workshop activities are refreshing, fun and confidence building. Workshops can be a few hours long, or more in depth over the course of a few days.

More elaborate community performances in the form of a magical mystery tour can be devised. These call upon the skills of local arts and performance groups and students, with an entertaining public event as the result.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL WORK
2008 Russia, Denmark
2009 Serbia, Dubai, Egypt

TOURING AVAILABILITY
Year-round availability