1966, a basement somewhere in Soho. The People Show was born. Born site specific, immersive, installed, devised, screaming and always visual. It has been ‘performing art’ ever since.
1978, in yet another attempt at financial survival, they took a slight turn, into the world of cabaret.
People Show Cabaret toured the world.
With the company now archiving and reflecting on their first 50 years, they surge onwards.
From the troubadours of the Parisian boulevards of yesteryear to the dark global corporate domination of today, People Show 137: God Knows How Many, will take you to precisely nowhere. But on the way you will laugh and feel a sense of what it is we might all be doing here.
Which is all they ever really wanted.
Emil Wolk, George Khan, Mark Long - three People Show
stalwarts - and the genius of Bill Palmer, founder of Avanti Display, come together once again for a new show. New and on the other hand old. Years of tumbling, verbal and musical gymnastics are re-visited and taken to the next dimension. A darker dimension where the cursory, momentary nature of life is confronted full on. Where the black hole of life itself, after all those years, is finally challenged.
And Chahine looks down upon them. He smiles.
Southwark Playhouse, 5th - 29th February 2020
Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol, 12th - 14th March 2020
Conceived and devised by the company: Mark Long, Emil Wolk, George Khan, Bill Palmer, Marty Langthorne and Nigel Edwards
Co-producer Maya Willcocks
PR Cliona Roberts
Marketing Sam McCauley
Special Effects Design by Bill Palmer and Dr Dave Southall
Maureen’s Voice Nicola Blackwell
Additional Arrangements Nick Tigg
French Radio Fred D’Faye
Filming Zadoc Nava
Photography Sheila Burnett
And of course the support and contribution of the People Show core company.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “People Show with over 50 years of eccentricity, humour and camaraderie take on the passing of time and do it in an absurdly comical and reflective style.” A Younger Theatre
"A thing of absolute beauty" Amanda Hadingue
“People Show is essential. They own this lane of theatre.” Exeunt
“A sea of sensory experiences held together by the commitment of its performers and a love of the bizarre.” The Stage
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Strangely wonderful and wonderfully strange” Theatre Mates
All images by by Sheila Burnett.
P e o p l e S h o w 1 3 7 : G o d K n o w s H o w M a n y