“THREADS” – MONOLOGUES BY JEAN COCTEAU
“THREADS” – MONOLOGUES BY JEAN COCTEAU – A CHANCE TO GET FAMILIAR WITH A VERY UNUSUAL GROUND FLOOR VENUE IN VAUXHALL PLEASURE GARDENS LONDON.
Who would imagine when going to a park area that they would find a formerly abandoned huge now restored Victorian public house, tenderly refurbished with vast character, complete with two resident cats, in the middle of the relatively small Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens! The public house, built in 1886, which is now re-decorated and devoted to theatre, live jazz, debates and good food and wine, not to mention tea and cakes has many productions on so do visit the website at www.teahousetheatre.co.uk!
The “Tea House Theatre” is a short walk from Vauxhall underground and bus station, and has been in that venue for eight years now, coined as, “A vagabond touring company in search of a home, who found it in the magic of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens”.
Currently being performed is “Threads” – monologues by Jean Cocteau starring French actor Gilles Guillain with thanks to the “Comite Jean Cocteau”, and directed by the talented Dimitry Devdariani. It is essentially a one man show and is showing on the 9th and 10th and 19th and 22nd November at 8pm. It also features some film footage put together by the talented production team. However do film elements and comprises five monologues by writer, poet, artist, playwright and film maker, Cocteau, originally written for Edit Piaf, Jean Mareau and Maria Casarez. In his writing for this production the exposure and expression of peoples’ longing for deep meaning in human contact and the difficulties in establishing it are exposed and examined by the versatile and talented Gilles Guillain. At one time Cocteau was connected with the Surrealist movement and the performance witnessed at The Tea House has previously been performed by Edith Piaf. Gilles Guillan brings to the mix a perfectly honed performance of the angst of various characters regarding love and longing in this one man show. Amongst many of his writings, Cocteau also wrote “Les Enfants Terribles” and “Les Parents Terribles”. Cocteau had a sometimes melancholy, sometimes passionate and highly intellectual approach in his view of life and his work reflects this.
The stunning gold cape/gown displayed in part of the production was made by Stephen de Toit – professional costumier and textile artist. He also designed Karlina Grace-Paseda’s outfit in the film footage used in the show. Stephen is currently living in France and Dimitri has been given a treasure trove of other costumes to use in his works.
Look up other shows on the website so you and a friend(s) can visit this easy to get to intimate venue where you may also want to enjoy cake or a meal – or both! Of course there are Christmas productions including Christmas Carol on Dec 5,6 and 7, The Man with the Flower in his Mouth, Dec 15,16 and 17 and Another Christmas Carol Dec 19. There is also a Christmas menu. Other food includes stunning cakes, and traditional London fayre served whilst you enjoy the show or shows you choose to visit.
Info@teahousetheatre.co.uk www.teachousetheatre.co.uk facebook.com/teahousetheatre twitter@teahousetheatre
ENJOY
Penny Nair Price