Embedded Files
The Twelfh Night Trilogy
Caliban's Codex
Oh Brave New World
Two Fools
The Twelfth Night Triology
Toby Belch is Unwell
The life of one of Shakepeare's better known, but still, minor characters. Toby Belch is unwell; the years of drinking, late nights and debauchery have taken their toll and now he faces his end with the knowledge that he is seen as a buffoon, a drunken sot and a bully.
Starring Sidney Kean
Fiction Romance
Winner of he Ironclad New Writing Bursary and Fours stars at the Brighton Fringe Theatre.
Best Actor 2025 Buxton fringe Festival for Fiction Romance
'A Fiction Romance' explores the life of the secondary characters in the Bard's plays. Antonio's story sees Antonio, from Twelfth Night, reflecting on a love that was all consuming and unrequited.
A tale of love unrequited, of one man's odyssey for the lover he will never have. For anyone who has ever sighed for your 'Sebastian' whoever they may be. Running time 40 min
Starring Patrick Kealey
Devil's Doorbell
Viola is left to reclaim her life amongst the ruins of Club Jo Jo, a Janus inspired venue for those who find freedom behind the mask. She recounts her sexless marriage and bid for freedom. With songs by Jacques Brel. 50+ min, minimal set.
Winner of the Premiul mARTA Award - Underground Festival - Romania 2024 for Toby Belch is Unwell.
What they say about ‘Toby Belch is unwell’
'An extraordinarily honest and viscerally powerful performance from Sidney Kean and a sly subversive script from John Knowles. It's a blistering howl of outrage from the also-rans and under achievers of life presented with utter stripped back simplicity, humour and verve. If you go to the theatre to share in something real, connect to your deepest humanity, hopes and fears, be transported and to feel more... then this is the show for you'.
Patrick Kealey Actor / Director
''An imaginative amplification of Shakespeare's Toby Belch, with moods ranging from the sentimental and nostalgic to envious, funny and sharp''
Simone Witney - Hastings Independent.
'A top performance, mixing spit, sniggers & pathos in equal measure. Acutely accurate acting of an amazingly observed script. We loved it.’ Jenny Barrett Robertsbridge Arts Partnership
''An imaginative amplification of Shakespeare's Toby Belch, with moods ranging from the sentimental and nostalgic to envious, funny and sharp''
"John writes more comprehensibly for characters than Shakespeare himself, who can be a bit oblique and obscure. Through his words each speaks the direct truth of themselves."
Roger Hill BBC Radio Merseyside
Fiction Romance Brighton Fringe 2021 - Director /Writer
‘It's wonderfully richly written, covering almost a lifetime's experience of the outsider in the tale, but bursting with love and sex and anger and forgiveness.’ Mark Bunyan
‘Fiction Romance was not just a play, it’s an emotional rollercoaster’ Sacha Cooper Broadwaybaby.com ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Devil’s Doorbell 2022 - writer/director
‘I kept thinking to myself that if I hadn’t known who the writer was, I would have put a lot of money on betting that it was a woman. Such a brilliant feminist perspective’
Sue Young Audience member
‘A wonderful and inspiring evening, witnessing the truly brilliant Hannah Harris embodying the gloriously lyrical words of John Knowles, ‘The Devil's Doorbell, don't miss it!’
Emily Carding
‘Fierce with anger and liberation. Acute with the arrows of truth. Profound. And sad. And rousing.’ Kelly Dyer
Caliban' Codex
Shortlisted for: Inspiration Award and Performance Award, Prague 2018.
'It's wonderful ! Theatre at its best'
Steve Gove Prague Fringe Theatre Founder and Director.
'A remarkable piece of writing and performance'
Brighton Festival 2019 - Bethan Troakes Broadwaybaby.com Four Stars.
In the twelve years since Prospero's departure, Caliban has painstakingly sifted through the ashes of the books of magic, slowly piecing together a new language and a way to save this island from mankind's abuse.
'There is no welcome here for you, your kind. Mankind, for there is nothing kind in man.'
Starring Emily Carding
Oh Brave New World
''The ladies of your court tried to dress me, washed me in soaps made of dead flowers, perfumed by body till my eyes stung, corseted me and layered me till I, could not hold my breath, could not speak a word. My hair pulled and teased as if caught on thistle.''
''The ladies of your court tried to dress me, washed me in soaps made of dead flowers, perfumed by body till my eyes stung, corseted me and layered me till I, could not hold my breath, could not speak a word. My hair pulled and teased as if caught on thistle.''
Standing before the court of Milan, Miranda is judged to have abused her god given powers to sing, be evoking the note of God and the heavens and therefore entrancing the people of Milan. This 'witch craft' will see her banished once more to 'Prospero's Island'. But Ariel, now freed, will not let Miranda's punishment stand.
Starring - Shaun Prendergast as The Judge of Milan, and Sofi Waghorne as Miranda
Two Fools
Two Fools
Tow of Shakespeares Fools meet on a bridge, one intending to jump to end it all, the other to make a leap of faith (as in the tarot's fool). But all is not as it seems and more is at play than first appears. The bridge itself also holds a dark tragic secret and state, politics, religion and humanity are on trial in this dark comedy.
Bottoms Dream
Bottoms Dream
A new play exploring Bottom fom Amidseummer Nights dream who finds themself unable to return to the worl of mundae life and is loked up as insane, but finds a new beginning amongst the Gypsies and circus performers emerging butterfly like as a Lindsey Kemp like performer. (yet to be performed).
Image (C) Rebecca Bathory
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