FreakContent

SUMMARY

Freakshow is not a historical documentation of circus sideshows, but a more personal exploration of the relationship between body and mind.

The show is set in the Shadowplay Sideshow. The acts are presented, but also the personal stories of the performers, showing where they have come from and how they have lived with their extraordinary bodies and abilities. It shows the lives, loves and dreams of this closed and unique community. But who is their manager, Shadow? And what are the Pickled Punks whispering about? And who is the new girl, who is never seen in daylight...

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

CHARACTERS:

L.B. The 'Talker'. Deformed by hideous scars [Brandon McGuire]
Itzy is the worlds oldest child star. However her parasitic twin Dolly (a puppet) is very much an adult.... [Louise Gregory]
Fairy was once a real fairy, but was stripped of her powers after a transgression. She now fakes her act [Izzy Aidallbery]
It is billed as Flaming Animal Boy. He has combustable skin. [Paul Wilson]
Clarity is an ordinary woman possessed of three other personalities [Marina Norris]
Eve is the geek (i.e. she devours live chickens as her act) but has a history and believes herself to be a great Shakespearian actress. [Katie Scarfe]

SETTINGS:

All scenes take place on stage and off stage around the freakshow camp.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Freakshow was a devised production, created by the whole Freakshow team. It started with a series of devising workshops led by Anita. Anita then wrote a script from the improvisations produced. The show was performed at the New Venture Theatre, Brighton in October 2003. It featured puppetry, and live music from Helleanor Webb.

RESEARCH LINKS

Pickled Punks: http://www.nurple.com/sideshow/
Sideshow history: http://www.csicop.org/sb/9912/i-files.html

'FREAKSHOW' SCRIPT SAMPLE

[Eve has arrived at the Freakshow and is looking for work.]

ITZY -What’s your act?

ORACLE -The avenged topaz shall devour with kisses the unwary.

EVE -In a manner of speaking.

L.B -Well how about you show us? A kind of audition.

EVE -But your manager…

L.B. -We make the choices about who joins us.

Dolly -And who leaves.

L.B. -So. Can you do your act for us? You can have a drink with us first if you like, but…

EVE -No! I shall perform immediately.

[Performs a speech as Lady Macbeth, rather OTT.]

ITZY -That was good.

EVE -I know its good.

FAIRY -In its place.

EVE -Modern freakshows are forming closer links to the performing arts.

DOLLY -But it’s boring. Go and join a theatre if you want to do that shit.

L.B. -It’s not really what we’re looking for.

FAIRY -Sorry.

ORACLE -Chickens. Vengeance wears a greatcoat of birdfeathers.

FAIRY -Chickens?

EVE -Yes. I can do the same act. With chickens. If required.

L.B. -Ah. Geeking! We could do with a glomming geek. It/the: go and get a chicken.

[It/the bounds off to get a chicken].

L.B.- The punters love a good geek. We lost our last one. Ambitious. Tried to move up to turkeys.

ITZY: -That was horrid.

L.B. -It wasn’t pretty.

[Clarity becomes Mrs P]

Mrs P -What’s your name, dear?

EVE -Eve.

FAIRY -So where are you from, 'Eve'?

EVE -Various freakshows.

L.B. -Which ones?

EVE -The Dreamland circus. The Steeplechase Sideshow… I forget them all.

L.B: -The Rosen brothers?

EVE -I didn’t stay long. The entire show was composed of grifts, gaffs and fakes.

L.B: -Did you ever work with Omar Sami?

EVE -Greatest talker there ever was.

ITZY -Did you meet Lionel, the dog-faced boy? He’s my friend.

EVE -I am acquainted with Lionel. But he’s no longer a boy. Goes by the name of ‘Lion Man’, now.

ITZY -[Tearful] Have you met my mummy? She’s looking for me?

EVE -Maybe. I wouldn’t know.

L.B. -Exactly how long have you been in this game?

EVE -Far too long.

[It/the comes in with chicken]

EVE -Do you want to see what I do? Now?

Mrs P -That would be marvellous.

[Vamp attacks and drains chicken]

EVE -Excuse me.

Mrs P -Good heavens.

L.B. -Fantastic. Did you see that?

DOLLY -The dog’s bollocks.

L.B. -That’s the best geeking I’ve ever seen.

FAIRY -That’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen.

ITZY -She’s good.

L.B. -Combine it with the poetry stuff, it’s got a bit of everything. Class and gore. What more can you ask for? They’ll lap it up.

ITZY -She’s in.

Mrs P -Congratulations.

REVIEWS

"The piece raises many questions, some of which are answered whilst other are left to the audience's interpretation and imagination. The message of this allegorical play is that it is the past that has them trapped as freaks and it is only after the past is confronted and accepted can they find freedom. "

"A weird but wonderfully entertaining and funny evening."

Barry Jerram The Brighton Argus