AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
adapted by LAURA EASON from the Novel by JULES VERNE
In our production of Laura Eason’s adaptation of Jules Verne’s Around The World In 80 Days, the acting company became Batulcar's Bombastic Band of Boisterous Bards! A fictional Victorian touring troupe performing in foggy London town before shipping off to Constantinople, for a worldwide tour of the East, the West and everything in between!
Within a timespan of 100 minutes, Batulcar’s Bards presented - to audiences’ astonishment!!! - 100 characters, 34 brilliant scenes, 6 trains, 5 boats, 5 fights, 5 songs (‘National Express’ by Divine Comedy, ‘All Over the World’ by ELO, ‘Sleigh Ride’ by The Ronettes, ‘Gayatri Mantra’ and one bawdy sea shanty ‘Haul Away Joe!’), 3 dances, 1 elephant (oh yes!) and 1 circus act – a circus act of such daring, such courage and such perfect skill that an accident was almost impossible!
Ladies and gentlemen, once the Around the World In 80 Days train departed, there was NO stopping us!
An international array of ‘star performers’ bedazzled, bemused, bewildered, baffled, and bamboozled our audiences’ senses, taking them on an odyssey of epic proportions: from the charming hamlet of Debden, to the White Cliffs of Dover, from the bustling fishing village of Hong Kong to the exotic and mystical ‘Yokohama’. Together they navigated the high seas and braved the lawless plains of the Wild Wild West, before landing our audiences - safely – but fully satisfied – home again.
East 15 Acting School’s 2018 Christmas Show was the rarest display of grandeur ever exhibited in a Corbett Theatre, superbly decorated with costly trappings!
Every member of The Audience Club who watched the show ranked Around the World In 80 Days with 5 stars. Here are some examples of the feedback that they emailed to us:
“Christopher Meads has delivered some great productions for East 15 in the past and this was no exception. Great entertainment from a cast that really looked as if they were loving every minute as much as the audience. Five stars!”
“It's always a treat to watch the performances from the E15 Acting School students and this was no exception. Funny, heart-warming, well produced, tightly directed and well-acted we had a great evening. The sound, lighting and costume crews also deserve a mention. Well done cast and crew!”
“Clever and professionally put together theatre production. Great energy and full of fun. Thoroughly enjoyed it.”
“An explosion of joyous talent - superb acting, singing and dancing, the 2 hours passed in no time - heartiest congratulations to all involved - those on stage and backroom.”
VENUE: Corbett Theatre, East 15 Acting School's 2018 Christmas Show; MFA Acting (International)
Photographs by Andrew H. WIlliams