WONDERFUL BEAST THEATRE COMPANY
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  • HOME
  • About Us
  • Work
    • Bubble Wrap
    • Lockdown Tales >
      • Lockdown Tales Full List >
        • Lockdown Tales Readers
      • Lockdown Tales: Folktales
      • Lockdown Tales: Verse
      • Lockdown Tales: Modern Stories
      • Lockdown Tales: Musical Tales
      • The Quangle Wangle's Hat Competition >
        • Competition Gallery
    • Shows >
      • The Last Woodwose
      • Return of the Wildman
      • Strange Fish
      • YES: The Adrian Mitchell Show
      • The Dead Moon
      • Maps of Desire
      • Tatterhood
      • The Wolf Road
      • Birth of Pleasure
    • Schools >
      • First the Dance, The the Feast
      • I Am a Woodwose
      • Abiyoyo & the Musicians of Bremen
      • The Coat of Umpteen Pockets
      • Little Red Chunni
    • Community >
      • The Nightingale
      • The Six Swans
      • Now and Then
      • Behind the Scenes at Mary Warner's
      • Memories of Suffolk
    • Family Shows >
      • Orla Tour
      • Orla's Moon
      • Orla and the Sun
      • The Swineherd and The Princess & The Pea
    • Festivals >
      • How Night Came from the Sea
      • Storm of Stories 2016
      • Storm of Stories 2014
      • Storm of Stories 2012
    • Events >
      • Bottom's Dream
      • Almeida Theatre Benefits
    • Podcast: Stories from the Archives
  • WB Singers
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YOUR CART

RETURN OF THE WILDMAN
(HIGHTIDE 2015, STORM OF STORIES 2016 AND AUTUMN TOUR 2017)

A new play by Thea Smiley

'An extraordinary script and performance. Great direction and an inspirational interpretation of the Wildman story. Exceptional theatre!' — AUDIENCE MEMBER
The Suffolk  legend of the Wildman of Orford says he was captured at sea and incarcerated in  Orford Castle where he was hung upside down in an attempt to make him speak. Not only would he not oblige but to the horror of the towns people he showed no respect for Christianity when taken to Orford Church. Who was this wildman….devil,  merman, sea spirit?  After six months he finally escaped and found his way back to the sea and disappeared for ever. Or did he?

​Our story tells another tale, one in which his presence is very much still alive.



'A really startling piece of theatre. Martin Bonger gave a brilliant performance in the title role, both muscular and vulnerable; the chorus of fishermen and the use of sea shanties and chants was incredibly powerful, and I loved the script and the way it seemed to grow out of the place we were in. Altogether memorable.' 
— DAN FRANKLIN, PUBLISHER, RANDOM HOUSE

AUDIENCE COMMENTS:

'Smiley has created an incredibly well-weaved story of great quality and skill.'

'Wonderful, evocative, lots of local references, historical and contemporary. Very effective soundscape and use of chorus; great to see a simple story told really well.'

'Excellent story, great local colour, and simple effective staging. Inspired music. Loved it.
It was directed very well and the interplay between the singers and the Wildman worked brilliantly.'

'Martin Bonger provided a faultless performance.'

'Martin Bonger’s remarkable performance managed to combine the wild and the human characteristics so well.'

'Fantastic! Great atmosphere and loved the sound and music.'

The full film of the orford castle performance can be viewed online by clicking here


cast

creatives

Actor: Martin Bonger
The Wonderful Beast Singers

music

Composer  & Musician: Sylvia Hallett
​
Voices: the Children of Orford and Aldeburgh Primary Schools
Writer: Thea Smiley
Director: Alys Kihl
Script Editor: Julia Blackburn
Lighting: ​Torben Merriott (Blackwing Lighting)
Technician: Lee Whittaker
Marketing: Aly Tipping
Programme Design: Silverlace Creatives

Photography: Mike Kwasniak

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