Forkbeard Fantasy
{{Short description|British multimedia arts company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
Forkbeard Fantasy is a British multimedia arts company, based in Devon. It began as an experimental performance art group in 1974, founded by brothers Chris and Tim Britton.
Between 1974 and 2010 it made touring theatre productions, largely performed by Chris and Tim.{{cite web|first1=David|last1=Farmer|access-date=2023-05-30|title=Forkbeard Fantasy - Multimedia Theatre of the Absurd - 1|url=https://dramaresource.com/forkbeard-fantasy-multimedia-theatre-of-the-absurd-1/|date=13 May 2015|website=Drama Resource}} In 1979, they were joined by Penny Saunders, a designer and maker, who went on to create most of Forkbeard's extravagant costumes and props. In the late 1980s they were also joined by Ed Jobling who became a core cast member and the company's technical wizard.{{Cite web |last=Bristol |first=University of |title=Forkbeard Fantasy |url=https://www.bristol.ac.uk/theatre-collection/explore/theatre/forkbeard-fantasy/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.bristol.ac.uk |language=en-GB}} Forkbeard continued to create interactive exhibitions, specially commissioned exhibits, short animation films as well performing one-off 'Brittonioni' shows and getting involved in a wide range of community based events until finally dissolving the company in 2024.
Lyn Gardner, reviewing The Colour of Nonsense (2010) in The Guardian, described the company as long having had a "mixture of madness and creativity".{{cite news|first1=Lyn|last1=Gardner|authorlink=Lyn Gardner|access-date=2023-05-30|title=The Colour of Nonsense|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2010/mar/19/colour-of-nonsense-review|newspaper=The Guardian|date=19 March 2010|issn=0261-3077}}
Touring theatre productions
- The Rubber God Show, 1975
- The Government Warning Show, 1976
- Men Only, 1977
- The Cranium Show, 1978
- On An Uncertain Insect, 1979
- The Clone Show, 1980
- Springtime, 1982
- The Brontosaurus Show, 1983
- Plants, Vampires and Crazy Kings 1985
- Myth, 1986
- Hypochondria, 1987
- A Serious Leak, 1989
- Invasion of the Bloopies, 1991
- The Little Match Girl, 1994
- The Fall of the House of Usherettes, 1995,{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usherettes-tobacco-factory-bristol-316796.html|title=The Fall Of The House Of Usherettes, Tobacco Factory, Bristol|date=2 October 2005|website=The Independent}}
- The Barbers of Surreal, 1998{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/reviews-mad-bad-and-atmospheric-1149524.html|title=Reviews: Mad, bad and atmospheric|date=11 March 1998|website=The Independent}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/see-forkbeard-fantasy-1147319.html|title=See Forkbeard Fantasy|date=28 February 1998|website=The Independent}}
- The Brain, 1999{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-a-tale-of-two-hemispheres-1128513.html|title=Theatre: A tale of two hemispheres|date=25 November 1999|website=The Independent}}
- Yallery Brown, 2000 – with Sean Aita{{cite news|access-date=2023-05-30|title=Yallery Brown|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2000/nov/01/theatre.artsfeatures1|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 November 2000|issn=0261-3077}}
- Frankenstein: a Truly Monstrous Experiment, 2001{{cite news|first1=Lyn|last1=Gardner|authorlink=Lyn Gardner|access-date=2023-05-30|title=My God, we've created a monster|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/oct/17/artsfeatures|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 October 2001|issn=0261-3077}}
- Shooting Shakespeare, 2004{{cite news|first1=Elisabeth|last1=Mahoney|access-date=2023-05-30|title=Shooting Shakespeare|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2004/oct/23/theatre3|newspaper=The Guardian|date=23 October 2004|issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/tights-camera-action-544536.html|title=Tights, camera, action|date=21 October 2004|website=The Independent}}
- Rough Magyck, 2006{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-30|title=Forkbeard Fantasy's weirdly topical|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/going-out/theatre/forkbeard-fantasys-weirdly-topical-944233|date=18 April 2010|website=Manchester Evening News}}{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-30|title=Fall Of The House Of Usherettes, Corn Exchange, Brighton, until Saturday, November 5|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6806452.fall-of-the-house-of-usherettes-corn-exchange-brighton-until-saturday-november-5/|date=3 November 2005|website=The Argus}}
- Invisible Bonfires, 2007{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-30|title=Invisible Bonfires|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2008/01/09/invisible_bonfires_feature.shtml|website=BBC}}{{cite news|first1=Elisabeth|last1=Mahoney|access-date=2023-05-30|title=Invisible Bonfires|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/sep/27/theatre2|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 September 2007|issn=0261-3077}}
- The Colour of Nonsense, 2010{{cite news|first1=Mark|last1=Cook|first2=Lyn|last2=Gardner|access-date=2023-05-30|title=This week's new theatre|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2010/oct/09/this-weeks-new-theatre|newspaper=The Guardian|date=8 October 2010|issn=0261-3077}}{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-30|title=The Colour of Nonsense, Southbank Centre, review|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/8971655/The-Colour-of-Nonsense-Southbank-Centre-review.html|website=The Daily Telegraph}}
References
{{Reflist}}
'Staging The Screen' by Greg Giesekam (Palgrave 2007)
External links
- {{Official website|www.forkbeardfantasy.co.uk}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Contemporary art organizations
Category:Theatre companies in England
Category:English artist groups and collectives
Category:1974 establishments in England
{{UK-theatre-stub}}