Emma Rice's exuberant production comes to iPlayer as part of BBC Arts' Culture in Quarantine programme
Following its UK tour in Spring 2019, we’re delighted to announce that our critically acclaimed co-production Wise Children is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer as part of BBC Arts’ Culture in Quarantine programme.
Co-produced by Wise Children, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, The Old Vic, Oxford Playhouse and York Theatre Royal, Wise Children sees director Emma Rice bring her unique, exuberantly impish vision to Angela Carter’s last great novel. It was her first new production since leaving her role as Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe, and marked the debut of her new production company of the same name.
Filmed at York Theatre Royal with support from The Space during its UK tour, this “big bawdy tangle of theatrical joy and heartbreak” will be available on iPlayer for three months, and will also air on BBC Four in May 2020 – date still to be announced.
Expect show girls and Shakespeare, sex and scandal, music, mischief, mistaken identity and butterflies by the thousand in this spectacular celebration of show business, family, forgiveness and hope.
Emma Rice said, “I dreamt about adapting Angela Carter’s Wise Children for years before it became a reality, and, when I finally did make it, it was the first piece I made for my new company. It’s a show I carry deep in my heart; a love letter to theatre, to survival, to family and family of choice.
“When The Space commissioned us to film it for the BBC I almost burst with pride! I delight in the fact that we now get to share this glorious story with so many others, and hope that the fun, truth, love and generosity poured into it will find its way into sitting rooms across the country! What feels even more perfect is that we’re releasing it now.
“Today, more than ever, we need the joy, resilience, hope and love of life which runs through the veins of Wise Children. As Nora and Dora Chance, the show’s central characters, tell us: ‘What a joy it is to dance and sing!’. Never has this been more true. We hope you enjoy!”
Fiona Morris, CEO and Creative Director of The Space, added, “We were delighted to commission the filming of this fantastic production which has received acclaim, and applaud Wise Children for creating an impressive piece of theatre that can now be enjoyed by wider audiences as part of the Culture in Quarantine programming.”
Casting for the show includes Sam Archer (Young Peregrine), Ankur Bahl (Young Melchior), Stu Barker (The Band), Omari Douglas (Showgirl Nora), Mirabelle Gremaud (Young Nora), Alex Heane (The Band), Paul Hunter (Melchior Hazard), Melissa James (Showgirl Dora), Bettrys Jones (Young Dora), Patrycja Kujawska (Lady Atalanta/Wheelchair), Etta Murfitt (Nora Chance), Katy Owen (Grandma Chance), Ian Ross (Band Leader), Gareth Snook (Dora Chance) and Mike Shepherd (Peregrine Hazard).
Wise Children is available to stream now via BBC iPlayer.