Worcester-based Vamos Theatre, the “UK’s leading full mask theatre company”, is to tour a new production, Dead Good, across the UK early in 2020.
The tour will include 23 large and small venues. The show will go north as far as Inverness, south to Canterbury and across the UK from Norwich to Taunton.
Dead Good tells the story of Bob and Bernard who have only two things in common: they’re both dying and they’re not going down without a fight. With a bottle of Bollinger and the keys to Bernard's Bentley in hand, they decide to hit the road and take on one final, death-defying adventure.
The production features an original music score, film projection, a multi-faceted set design and characterful new masks especially made for the show by Russell Dean of Strangeface.
The cast for Dead Good includes international clown performer Aron De Casmaker from Canada, Winchester-born James Greaves who is a veteran of full-mask pioneers Trestle Theatre, London-born Angela Laverick and Gloucester-born Joshua Patel.
Artistic director Rachael Savage has been at the forefront of research into and writing of the show. She has met palliative care patients and health professionals who work in end-of-life care.
She said, “I couldn’t have written this show without the input of so many generous and wise people, in particular the support of two brilliant men, Dave and Nick, both terminally ill, who’ve shared their most intimate and precious feelings and experiences.
“Writing Dead Good has deepened my value of life, made me think about planning for a good death and I've laughed ten times more than I’ve cried. Expect another Vamos Theatre rollercoaster and for your preconceptions to be smashed.”
Dead Good will preview at the Swan Theatre, Worcester on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 January before its official première at Jacksons Lane, London from 30 January until 2 February as part of London International Mime Festival.
Vamos will offer workshops for schools to give young people a taster of mask and physical theatre.