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Punchdrunk (theatre company)

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Punchdrunk
Company typeTheatre company
IndustryArts & Entertainment
Founded2000
FounderFelix Barrett
Headquarters,
Websitepunchdrunk.com

Punchdrunk is a British theatre company, formed in 2000 by Felix Barrett.[1]

The company developed a form of immersive theatre in which no audience member will have the same experience as another. The audience is free to choose what to watch and where to go.[2][3][4] The format is related to promenade theatre, but uses audience immersion more extensively.[5][4] The company has been recognized for its unique uses of sound, light, movement and environment. In 2015, Punchdrunk formed a new company, Punchdrunk International, which produces a selection of Punchdrunk's commercial productions for national and international audiences.

The company is a National Portfolio Organisation with Arts Council England.[6]

Theatrical style

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In a typical Punchdrunk production, audience members are free to roam the performance site, which can be as large as a five-story industrial warehouse. They can either follow the performers and themes (there are usually multiple threads at any instant), or simply explore the world of the performance, treating the production as a large art installation.[citation needed]

Masks are another signature element of Punchdrunk's work. Barret says when the company "...introduced masks, suddenly inhibition fell away and people found a sense of freedom in their anonymity, allowing them to fully explore their surroundings and become totally absorbed in the world around them."[7]

Former Secretary of State for Culture James Purnell cited Punchdrunk as an example of "access and excellence" in modern British theatre.[7]

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Punchdrunk Enrichment

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In 2008, Punchdrunk founded a new branch of the company focused on outreach to communities and schools called Punchdrunk Enrichment. Punchdrunk Enrichment projects are mostly aimed at children and young people.

Projects from Punchdrunk Enrichment include:

  • Under the Eiderdown (2009 - 2014), a theatrical experience in which school pupils are invited to visit a magical bric-a-brac shop, encouraging them to show an interest in creative writing.[8]
  • Against Captain's Orders: A Journey into the Uncharted (2015), an immersive exhibition for children at the National Maritime Museum in London.[9]
  • Greenhive Green (2016), a project for Greenhive Care Home residents, including those with dementia, in partnership with Magic Me .[10]
  • Small Wonders (2018 & 2019), a magical, interactive experience for children aged 5–11 years old and their families[11] at Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Tottenham and Edinburgh International Children's Festival.

Punchdrunk International

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In 2015, Punchdrunk founded a new production company, Punchdrunk International. Felix Barrett serves as the Artistic Director of Punchdrunk International. Company members include Creative Producer Colin Nightingale, Creative Director Stephen Dobbie and Design Director Livi Vaughan.

The company has also collaborated with selected organisations, including a long term creative partnership with Samsung North America. Projects made in collaboration with the company include Believe Your Eyes, a VR experience for Cannes Lions Festival, 2016. The experience has since travelled to Art Basel Miami, Samsung 837 in New York and Phi Centre, Montreal. Believe Your Eyes was awarded a Silver Lion in the Entertainment category at Cannes 2017.

Fallow Cross

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In 2017, Punchdrunk opened Fallow Cross,[12] a research and development space in Tottenham Hale.

Punchdrunk productions

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Punchdrunk International productions

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The Punchdrunk Encyclopaedia

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The Punchdrunk Encyclopaedia was published by Routledge in 2019, edited by the theatre scholar Josephine Machon.[44] Development of the book began in 2014, after Machon interviewed Felix Barrett for a book on British theatre companies.[45] Machon interviewed further members of Punchdrunk and visited Barrett's parents' home.[45]

The book is structured as an encyclopaedia to allow non-linear exploration of its contents, mirroring Punchdrunk's non-linear performances.[45] It was reviewed by The Times Literary Supplement,[44] and nominated for the Theatre Book Prize in 2020.[46]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Queen's birthday honours for Penelope Wilton, Vera Lynn and Stanley Wells | News | The Stage". The Stage. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Punchdrunk: plunge into a world of extraordinary theatre". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  3. ^ Machon, Susan. Immersive Theatres: Intimacy and Immediacy in Contemporary Performance. London: Palgrave, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Prudhon, Deborah (1 July 2018). "Punchdrunk's Immersive Theatre: From the End to the Edge". Sillages critiques (24). doi:10.4000/sillagescritiques.6341. ISSN 1272-3819.
  5. ^ "Punchdrunk: plunge into a world of extraordinary theatre". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Punchdrunk". Arts Council England. Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  7. ^ a b Higgins, Charlotte (6 July 2007). "Overthrow the tyranny of targets: minister's message for the arts". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  8. ^ "In conversation with Matthew Blake". Wales Arts Review. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Punchdrunk". punchdrunk.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Ground-breaking Greenhive Green by Punchdrunk". LondonTheatre1.com. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  11. ^ Hitchings, Henry (11 June 2018). "Small Wonders review: An atmospheric testament to the power of the imagination". London Evening Standard.
  12. ^ Gardner, Lyn (25 April 2017). "Welcome to Fallow Cross: inside the secret village built by Punchdrunk". The Guardian.
  13. ^ a b c Andrew Eglinton, "Reflection on a Decade Punchdrunk of Theatre", in Theatre Forum 37 (2010): 46.
  14. ^ "Odyssey Works Produces Weekend-Long Theater for an Audience of One". artinfo.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Punchdrunk website – Chair". punchdrunk. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  16. ^ "Punchdrunk website – The Tempest". punchdrunk. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  17. ^ "Punchdrunk website – Sleep No More". punchdrunk. Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  18. ^ "Punchdrunk : Art Trail 2004". 26 July 2004. Archived from the original on 23 September 2006.
  19. ^ Clare, Paul (11 August 2005). "The Big Chill Festival 2005 – In The Press". DJ Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006.
  20. ^ Gardner, Lyn (22 February 2005). "The Firebird Ball Offley Works, London" (PDF). The Guardian. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2007.
  21. ^ Glusker, Anne (17 December 2006). "The Best Seats for This Play Are Moving Fast". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Productions : Faust". National Theatre. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  23. ^ "Critics' Circle | Drama". Criticscircle.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 June 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  24. ^ "Productions : The Masque of the Red Death". National Theatre. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  25. ^ "Productions : Red Death Parties". National Theatre. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  26. ^ Brown, Mark (8 May 2009). "Tunnel vision of underground art". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  27. ^ "ART website – Sleep No More". ART. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  28. ^ a b "Punchdrunk website – Sleep No More". punchdrunk. Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  29. ^ "Punchdrunk 'Immersive Theater' Group Seeks to Replace Mega Clubs in West Chelsea". DNAInfo. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  30. ^ "New York Production (2011)". Sleepnomorenyc.com. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  31. ^ "The McKittrick Hotel". The McKittrick Hotel. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  32. ^ Preview in UrbanDaddy
  33. ^ Gardner, Lyn (8 June 2011). "The Crash of the Elysium: Punchdrunk children only". The Guardian.
  34. ^ "The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable | A Punchdrunk production at Temple Studios". Nationaltheatre.org.uk. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  35. ^ Lukowski, Andrzej. "Punchdrunk's first show in eight years The Burnt City is a jaw-dropping achievement". Time Out London. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  36. ^ Curtis, Nick (21 April 2022). "The Burnt City review: Punchdrunk's return is simply astonishing". Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  37. ^ "Want to Know When Rihanna's New Album Drops? Follow This Samsung Campaign". AdWeek. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  38. ^ "Prime, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Ogilvy PR win Lions in non-PR categories at Cannes | PR Week". www.prweek.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  39. ^ "Punchdrunk's Sleep No More to be staged in Shanghai | News | The Stage". The Stage. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  40. ^ "Punchdrunk International win Silver Lion". The Corner Shop PR. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  41. ^ "A Theatrical Murder Mystery Unfolds at the Season 2 Premiere of Search Party". Vogue. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  42. ^ "Jude Law to Star in Sky and HBO Drama 'The Third Day'". Variety. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  43. ^ "The week in theatre: Punchdrunk: The Burnt City; Scandaltown". The Guardian. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  44. ^ a b Williams, Holly (19 April 2019). "Adrenaline hit: Inside the world of immersive theatre". TLS. Times Literary Supplement (6055): 28–29 – via go.gale.com.
  45. ^ a b c Yu, Kathryn (23 January 2019). "Inside the World of Punchdrunk with 'The Punchdrunk Encyclopaedia' (Q&A)". Medium. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  46. ^ "2020 Report – Society for Theatre Research". www.str.org.uk.

Further reading

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  • Machon, Josephine. The Punchdrunk Encyclopaedia, Routledge (2018).
  • Biggin, Rose. "Immersive Theatre and Audience Experience Space, Game and Story in the Work of Punchdrunk" Palgrave Macmillan, Cham (2017)
  • Machon, Josephine. Immersive Theatres: Intimacy and Immediacy in Contemporary Performance. London: Palgrave (2013).
  • White, Gareth. "On Immersive Theatre". Theatre Research International 37.3 (2012): 221–35.
  • Machon, Josephine. (Syn)aesthetics: Redefining Visceral Performance. London: Palgrave (2009).
  • Oddey, Alison and Christine White (eds.). Modes of Spectating. Bristol: Intellect (2009).
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