May by Probe at the Minerva Theatre

MAY by Probe - 1 February - Minerva Theatre - Chichester

An unlikely yet passionate love story is told through dance, words and music in an exciting production by Probe, an acclaimed local company. The tale of the relationship between May and Douglas mixes gritty realism with a beguiling fairytale. May is a woman living on the edge and Douglas is a man living in his head. When their worlds collide, only the truth can save them.

Probe is a Brighton-based company whose production of May was critically acclaimed during its 2011 UK tour, and nominated for a London Festival Fringe Dance Award. May is written by award-winning writer Tim Crouch and directed by Pete Shenton. It is performed by award-winner Ben Duke, and Antonia Grove, who is also Probe’s Artistic Director, together with musician Scott Smith.

Tim Crouch’s work has been performed in the UK and internationally. His credits include My Arm, The Author (Royal Court Theatre) which won the 2010 John Whiting Award and I, Malvolio, which premiered at the Brighton Festival 2010. He has been commissioned to write and direct a new play for the RSC – I, Cinna (The Poet) – which will engage young audiences of 11+ in the story of Cinna the poet from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Crouch is also directing a newly crafted 70-minute production of King Lear for the RSC to be performed to 1000 schoolchildren in New York City in October.

Ben Duke plays Douglas. He won the Place Prize 2011 with Raquel Meseguer for their piece It Needs Horses by Lost Dog. He has worked with Hofesh Shechter, the National Theatre of Scotland, Punch Drunk, Maresa von Stockert and Darkin Ensemble. He recently performed the collaborative piece, The Difference Engine, at the Gate Theatre, London, as part of Dance Umbrella 2011. As a choreographer he has created works for Scottish Dance Theatre, Phoenix Dance, National Theatre of Scotland and the Gate Theatre.

Antonia Grove has danced for The National Theatre, Random Dance, Bonachela Dance Company, Charles Linehan Company, Fabulous Beast, New Art Club and Mattias Ek. She has twice been nominated for the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards, and for a Time Out Live Award.

Pete Shenton jointly founded and directs New Art Club with Tom Roden. Their critically acclaimed work includes This Is Modern, Electric Tales, Dance, Jokes and Dance Jokes, and This Is Now. He has also performed with Vincent Dance Theatre and Motionhouse. Duke directed The Three Graces for Laurie Lorry Theatre Company, has created commissions for Dance Umbrella, Probe, Fan Club and Scottish Dance Theatre and co-choreographed New Art Club’s The Short Still Show, which reached the final of The Place Prize for choreography.

Scott Smith is a musician, teacher, performer, and member of the bluegrass/country band Porchlight Smokers. He has studied and performed with dancer/choreographer Steve Paxton and Lisa Nelson. Other credits include performances in New York, London and Berlin, with Walker Dance Park Music, Gravity & Levity and Vincent Dance.

Probe was founded in 2004 by Antonia Grove and Theo Clinkard who produced two works together, Have we met somewhere before? (2005/06), a triple bill by Lea Anderson, Marc Bruce and Rafael Bonachela, and Magpie (2008), a collection of seven “dance gems” by radically different choreographers. Since Clinkard’s departure from the company, Grove has continued to develop projects as sole Artistic Director, including Small Talk with Wendy Houstoun, which premieres at the Merlin Theatre in Frome, Somerset in February.

May is at the Minerva Theatre on Wednesday 1 February at 7.45pm. Tickets £18, Students £2 off, Schools 10+ £8.50. Box Office 01243 812917.