A Double-Bill: Push and Citizen Puppet

PUSH - Based on the novel by Sapphire

Precious Jones lives in Harlem with her mother who beats and abuses her. She wants Precious to stay home, eat herself fat and keep the welfare checks coming.

At age twelve Precious has her first child and four years later she has another. Her dad is the father. But Precious wants better for her son. After being suspended from school Precious joins the ‘Each One Teach One’ alternative school and, inspired by her new teacher and classmates, she learns to read and write.

Adapted from the novel by Sapphire and reimagined by the ensemble cast, Push is a powerful and disturbing story told by Precious and her classmates, enlivened by humour, joy and 1980s music and dance moves.

Created by: Quiconque / Scarlet Theatre

Directors: Catherine Alexander (Quiconque / Complicite), Graínne Byrne (Scarlet Theatre)

Performed by: BA (Hons) Acting CDT students

‘Scarlet present a roughshod roller-coaster ride into the murkier aspects of the human psyche, tempered with a marvellously grotesque humour and brilliant performances.”
The Herald

‘Imaginative, dextrous and visually inventive. Quiconque are a company of real tangible ability.’
The Sunday Herald


Citizen Puppet - Collaborative verbatim puppet theatre experiment.

Puppet pioneers Blind Summit Theatre collaborate with Acting CDT final year students to present a verbatim puppet theatre experiment that delves into the lives of people on the political ‘fringe’, in the build-up to the general election.

Using verbatim dialogue that expresses views that might otherwise be censored, the puppets reveal unspeakable truths (and lies). Immigration, housing, immigration, tax fraud, immigration... The puppets don’t have opinions, they just repeat what they hear.

The first chance to see a new emerging work by Blind Summit – the creators of the hit show The Table and the puppetry for the London Olympic Opening Ceremony 2012.

Performed by: BA (Hons) Acting CDT students

"If puppetry is ever to be the next rock 'n' roll these animators may well be its frontmen."
Time Out.

'Blind Summit once again prove that when you are working in miniature, you don't have to think small.'
The Guardian

This double bill is supported by the New Diorama Emerging Companies Fund.