Beasts - A Manual Of The Monstrous at Ashton Court Mansion

About

Award winning theatre company Red Rope return for the third year to Ashton Court Mansion, following their previous supernatural encounters inside this unique performance space: the sell-out story telling evening Penny Dreadful Ghost Stories in 2021, and celebrated Tales of the Grimoire in 2023.
This Spring they return with a monstrous take on three new tales depicting mythical beasts.
The Water Hare - By Matt Grinter
It is 485 days into the siege of Leningrad and for Petyr life is unbearably bleak and unfathomably cold. When his dead brother starts to call to him from the banks of the frozen lake, Petyr and his sister find a monster. A Muckling, a Water Hare, a creature that knows how much the hunger, the grief, and the fear has stolen from them. They will learn that you never truly live through a war and you never truly escape from a Muckling.
The Walker in the Woods - By Rebecca Robson
Set off only at sunrise. Don't stop moving. Never look back. Never talk to the animals. And there's something else you must never do... but she's only a child, after all. Despite her grandmother's warnings, it's only natural to forget some rules. Especially when trusted with such an important task.
But the forest is vast and dark, easy to become lost. If only she could remember that last rule.
Because something is following her. Something old. Something fast. But she isn't Red Riding Hood. And this is no wolf.
The Communion - By Danann McAleer and Rebecca Robson
A student of theology travels to a remote village in the Yorkshire moors to study the merging of Christianity with folklore in remote societies. He's hungry to explore how old beliefs can merge with the Church. But it seems that it isn't only the ideology of this place which has mutated...Where is their priest...? What are the origins of the strange hymns and psalms? And what are those voices in the woods...?
Each of the pieces will be a performance reading, and will be scored by new music created specifically for each tale by the incredible Crooked Worlds.
About Crooked Worlds
The collaboration of Oliver Thomas and Alba Torriset.
They compose for theatre, podcasts, television, film and gaming (table-top and computer).
Oliver Thomas is a platinum award-winning and chart #1 producer/composer whose music has appeared on all the major network channels.
Alba Torriset is a British-Norwegian singer/songwriter performer, recording artist and coach who has played some of the UKs biggest festivals stages. Her powerful, ethereal vocals have taken her all over Europe and to The Middle-East.
About Red Rope Theatre Company Ltd
Red Rope were chosen as one of Bristol 24/7's Christmas shows of the year 2022 (A Christmas Carol) and 2023 (Sherlock Holmes Hound of the Baskervilles). They have enthralled audiences at Arnos Vale Cemetery since 2015 with 6 Sell-Out Gothic Horror productions, and have been praised for their productions of literacy classics.
The company was founded in 2012 by Award-Winning Writer Matt Grinter, and Actor/Producer Rebecca Robson, then Actor/Producer Lois Grinter joined the company in 2013. This is their 13th production.