Contact:

Seena Hodges

612.225.6142

seenah@guthrietheater.org

KNEEHIGH, CREATORS OF THE WILDLY POPULAR

BRIEF ENCOUNTER, RETURNS TO THE GUTHRIE WITH

THEIR MOST CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SHOW

TRISTAN & YSEULT

The must-see experience reinvents an ancient love story with comedy,

live music, and inventive staging for a passion-filled night of theater.

If this show doesnt make you fall in love with theatre, theres no potion on Earth that can help you. The Guardian

Begins February 13, Opening Night February 14

Playing through March 23, 2014 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

(Minneapolis/St. Paul) The Guthrie proudly welcomes the triumphant return of Kneehigh, creators of the smash hit adaptation of Brief Encounter, to present their critically acclaimed production of Tristan & Yseult this season. Director Emma Rice and designer Bill Mitchell reunite to create a must-see theatrical experience that reinvents the ancient love story with comedy, live music, grand passion and tender truths in an irresistible night of love. Tristan & Yseult is presented as part of the Guthries WorldStage Series, in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and begins performances on February 13 and continues through March 23, 2014. Single tickets start at $29 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

Based on an ancient tale, Tristan & Yseult is the original age-old story of forbidden desires, broken hearts, and the agony of choosing one human being over another. King Mark of Cornwall is at war; he rules with his head not his heart. But he hasnt counted on falling head over heels for his enemys sister Yseult or the arrival of the enigmatic Tristan.

Kneehighs Tristan & Yseult was the celebrated production that catapulted the company onto the international scene, entrancing audiences throughout the UK and beyond. The Guardian declared Halfway through Kneehighs show, the band were playing, balloons were flying, hearts and minds were connecting and I suddenly realised how rare it is to have this much fun in the theatreI loved it with a passion. The BBC proclaimed, Its funny, moving, sexy, and a total delight I left the theatre feeling absolutely elatedit embraces you so warmly that you feel as if you have been physically hugged. The London Telegraph raved, calling Tristan & Yseult A richly inventive triumph from start to finishTheir show is as cheeky as a kid and wild as the wind, while The London Independent called the show One of the best evenings in theatre you could hope to findTerrific for those who long for theatre which takes the mind and heart into an altered state.

Kneehigh is undoubtedly one of the most exciting, most engaging touring companies working today and we are thrilled and honored to welcome them back this season to our community said Guthrie Director Joe Dowling. The response to Kneehighs tremendous production of Brief Encounter a few seasons ago was extraordinary, and we know this particular production their most celebrated will be equally embraced by our audience.

Tristan & Yseult features an ensemble cast of eight performers: Carly Bawden (Whitehands), Gareth Charlton (Lovespotter/Brute/Animator), Andrew Durand (Tristan), Craig Johnson (Brangian/Morholt), Giles King (Frocin), Etta Murfitt (Yseult), Róbert Lu?kay (Lovespotter/Brute/Animator), and Stuart Goodwin (King Mark). Live music composed by Stu Barker is performed by Russ Gold, Pat Moran and Elizabeth Westcott, under the musical directorship of Ian Ross.

The creative team includes Carl Grose and Anna Maria Murphy (Writers), Bill Mitchell (Designer), Malcolm Rippeth (Lighting Designer), and Gregory Clarke (Sound Designer), Helen Atkinson (Associate Sound Designer), and Stu Barker (Original Music). The stage managers for Tristan & Yseult are Aled Thomas and Cynthia Cahill.

Emma Rice (Adapter/Director) is the joint artistic director of Kneehigh and has directed The Red Shoes, The Wooden Frock, The Bacchae, Tristan & Yseult, Cymbeline (in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company), A Matter of Life and Death (Royal National Theatre in association with Kneehigh),Rapunzel (in association with Battersea Arts Centre), Brief Encounter (a David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers production in association with Kneehigh), Don John (in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Bristol Old Vic), Midnights Pumpkin, The Wild Bride, Wah! Wah! Girls (with Sadlers Wells, Theatre Royal Stratford East for World Stages), and Steptoe and Son. Rices other work includes the West End production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Oedipussy for Spymonkey, and The Empress for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

About Kneehigh

Kneehigh are one of the UKs most exciting touring theatre companies who specialize in visually stunning, adventurous theatre, ensemble playing and beautiful music; bringing a real sense of joy and spontaneity to everything they do. Kneehigh productions include Steptoe and Son, The Wild Bride, Midnights Pumpkin, The Red Shoes, Hansel & Gretel, Don John, Brief Encounter, A Matter of Life and Death, Cymbeline, and Tristan & Yseult.

The GUTHRIE THEATER (Joe Dowling, Director) was founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963 and is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The Tony Award-winning Guthrie Theater is dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. With annual attendance of nearly 500,000 people, the Guthrie Theater presents a mix of classic plays and contemporary work on its three stages. Under the artistic leadership of Joe Dowling since 1995, the Guthrie continues to set a national standard for excellence in theatrical production and performance. In 2006, the Guthrie opened its new home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Guthrie Theater houses three state-of-the-art stages, production facilities, classrooms and dramatic public lobbies. www.guthrietheater.org.

Cast:

Carly Bawden (Whitehands), Gareth Charlton (Lovespotter/Brute/Animator), Andrew Durand (Tristan), Craig Johnson (Brangian/Morholt), Giles King (Frocin), Etta Murfitt (Yseult), Róbert Lu?kay (Lovespotter/Brute/Animator), and Stuart Goodwin (King Mark). Live music performed by Russ Gold, Pat Moran, Ian Ross and Elizabeth Westcott.

Creative Team:

Emma Rice (Adaptor/Director), Bill Mitchell (Designer), Malcolm Rippeth (Lighting Designer), and Gregory Clarke (Sound Designer), Helen Atkinson (Associate Sound Designer), Stu Barker (Original Music), Ian Ross (Musical Director)

Performance Dates: February 13 March 23, 2014

Performance Times: Tuesday through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

Sundays at 7 p.m.

Matinees on selected Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.

Location: Guthrie Theater McGuire Proscenium Stage

818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Pricing: Single tickets priced $29 $64

(Discounts for children, students and seniors available)

Tickets: Tickets may be purchased online at www.guthrietheater.org

Guthrie Box Office: 612.377.2224 or 877.44.STAGE

Box Office hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-performance days)

Group Sales: 612.225.6244 or 877.225.6211

ACCESS PERFORMANCES

Learn more online at http://www.guthrietheater.org/accessibility

OPEN CAPTIONED

captioned by c2 inc.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.
Friday, March 21, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

ASL INTERPRETATION

Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

AUDIO DESCRIBED

Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. with a sensory tour at 10:30 a.m.
Friday, March 7, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

If you have specific program questions or need an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Office by phone at 612.225.6390 (voice) or 612.225.6391 (TTY) or email at accessibility@guthrietheater.org.

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