Tangle (2006)
Teleportation, Quantum Entanglement, a Trans-Atlantic Detective Story and The Wombles.
TOURED OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2006
a co-production with The Corn Exchange, Newbury
in association with the Berkshire Venues Consortium
Outreach programme supported by The Institute of Physics
photos by Ed Collier
TANGLE was set in an underground research facility on Wimbledon Common where two scientists are on the verge of an incredible breakthrough.
Unlimited Theatre’s new show is a detective story. It’s about the search for a lost brother, a missing uncle, a dead wife and an untraceable atom. It’s about heroes, the ethics of progress and daring to believe in things we cannot see. It’s a bit like Doctor Who meets Moonlighting.
TANGLE mixes quantum physics with urban myth, Albert Einstein with Great Uncle Bulgaria and uses leading edge scientific advances to teleport an orange.
At some venues we presented a Lecture-cum-Q&A session with Professor Vlatko Vedral (Head of the Quantum Information Science Group at the University of Leeds at the time) and J Spooner (Artistic Director of Unlimited Theatre). Professor Vedral consulted on the development of TANGLE and works at the cutting edge of scientific research into the actual possibilities of teleportation via ‘Quantum Entanglement’, what Einstein referred to as “Spooky Action at a Distance”. Funded by the Institute of Physics.
Cast: Gemma Brockis, Lucy Ellinson, J Spooner, Chris Thorpe
Directed by J Spooner
Stage Design by Alexander Kelly
Lighting Design by Colin Grenfell
Sound Design by Gareth Fry
Associate Producer: Ed Collier
Production Manager: Mat Ort
Stage Management: Perrine Desproges
Associate Artists:
A Smith, Steven Dykes, Bryony Lavery, Tim Skelly, Professor Vlatko Vedral
disclaimer: while the management fully intend to show you something that at least vaguely corresponds to the above description, the management also reserves the right to change our minds at any time between then and now.
TANGLE: Tour Dates 2006
SEPTEMBER
Newbury Corn Exchange
Friday 29 and Saturday 30 September @ 7.45pm
Post show discussion Friday 25th
OCTOBER
Crucible Studio, Sheffield
Tuesday 3 – Friday 6 October @ 7.45pm
Jacksons Lane, London
Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 October @ 8pm
Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury
Thursday 12 October @ 7.45pm
Unity, Liverpool
Friday 13 and Saturday 14 October @ 8pm
Contact, Manchester
Tuesday 31 October and Wednesday 1 November @ 8pm
Post show discussion Tuesday 31st October
BSL Performance Wednesday 1st November
NOVEMBER
Arena, Wolverhampton
Thursday 2 November @ 7.30pm
Wickham Theatre, Bristol
Friday 3 November @ 7.30pm
South Hill Park, Bracknell
Tuesday 14 November @ 7.30pm
21 South Street, Reading
Wednesday 15 November @ 8pm
Trinity, Tunbridge Wells
Thursday 16 November @ 8pm
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead
Friday 17 November @ 7.30pm
The Door @ Birmingham Rep
Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25 November @ 7.45pm
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
Tuesday 27 Nov – Saturday 2 December @ 7.45pm
Matinees Thursday 30 @ 2pm and Saturday 2 Dec @ 2.30pm
Post show discussion Thursday 30 November
Special Event with Professor Vlatko Vedral: Saturday 2 Dec @ 5pm
“I went to see TANGLE at the Unity in Liverpool last night and I just wanted to let you know that I loved the show. The writing was excellent – witty, rich and accessible. The acting was great – committed and engaging without being forced. The piece was visually fun. The soundtrack was the best I think I’ve ever “seen” – subtle, imaginative, beautifully complementary to the action. Thankyou and all the best.”
“Unlimited ventures boldly into areas where pretentiousness awaits the unwary traveller (surrealism, the ethics of science, appearance and reality) and emerges totally unscathed. Instead there’s a sense of intellectual fun, mixed in with farce, philosophy and oddly compassionate observation.” What’s On Stage dot com
“”I was involved with the Open Space project in Leeds last year, in which i saw the scratch performance of Tangle. After seeing it a second time at the Playhouse, i must say i was blown away by it again! i loved seeing the polished version and was incredibly impressed to see all the original team still there working together. Thankyou so much for a good show, PLEASE keep it up you wonderful people!”
“I saw TANGLE in Birmingham last night – I had no prior knowledge of either Unlimited or Tangle but decided to try it anyway & I’m very glad I did! The show was really excellent, well presented and very well acted. Thought provoking too. Thanks for a great night’s entertainment.”
“We saw TANGLE in London last night and got talking to a couple at the bus stop afterwards who’d also been to the show. He was a physicist and loved all the physics bit. He said you knew your stuff and he thought it had been ‘fantastic’ and they’d both really enjoyed it. She said ‘the acting was great’.”
“Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed the performance of Tangle in Tunbridge Wells last night. It was a beautifully crafted, brilliantly performed, thought provoking, funny, and intriguing experience. Thankyou and we look forward to seeing more of you.”
“Saw your show last night in Sheffield. Really loved it – as did my student son and his mate. Just hit all the right notes. Thanks!”
“Hi guys, just wanted to say thanks for everything Unlimited have done for myself and Rodillian School recently. Especially J, who made the whole workshop such a fun place to be! Tangle was brilliant too, true entertainment. Thanks again, and all the best.”
“I am a pupil at Clarendon House Grammar School in Ramsgate and I am doing drama for GCSE. As part of our course we get to see three shows and “Tangle” was one of them. Having seen Steven Berkoff, I was afraid it wouldn’t be as good but I was wrong. I thought it was excellent, the actors were great, the story line was brilliant and it was an altogether excellent show. I am 15. Well Done.”
“I really, REALLY enjoyed your play. Very funny, and at times moving. I’m not very good at deconstructing the world of the arts in an intelligent and enlightened manner, but all I know is that I liked it, it made me laugh, and at points, it made me want to cry.” Audience Member, London