Theatre / Riddlestick Theatre
Riddlestick Theatre are back with their folk horror musical comedy ‘Barleycorn’
After two successful work-in-progress shows in the Autumn of 2024, Bristol’s actor-musician troupe Riddlestick Theatre (The Undercover Christmas Club; Fools; The Cabinet of Madame Fanny Du Thé) are back at The Wardrobe Theatre on August 5 for a five-night run of their folk horror musical comedy, Barleycorn.
Set in the fictional English village of Hopley Drew, where it has been raining all summer, the locals gather at The Barleycorn Inn for their annual Harvest Show – forced indoors due to flooding.
“Some say that the non-stop rain is due to a mysterious curse, but others say the show must go on, soggy crops or not”, they explain.
Barleycorn, Work in Progress performance at The Wardrobe Theatre, 2024, Riddlestick Theatre – photo: Danny Connaire
“With hints of The Wicker Man, Hot Fuzz, This Country and Grand Designs, this is a show for anyone who’s ever lived in, visited, or even just passed through a slightly peculiar English village.”
Co-artistic directors Kate Stokes and Thomas Manson were inspired to write Barleycorn after experiencing a number of traditional folk events around the country, from wassailing in Taunton to the hobby horse trials of the Sidmouth Folk Festival.
Riddlestick Theatre are a troupe of actor-musicians – photo: Danny Connaire
“The show celebrates how such customs bring communities together and highlights the importance of social spaces like the village pub”, they say.
Audiences can expect live music, interaction, plays-within-plays and at least one morris dance.
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Barleycorn (age recommendation 12+) is at The Wardrobe Theatre on August 5-9 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com. Follow @riddlesticktheatre for updates.
Main photo: Riddlestick Theatre
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