ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
16
ON THE ARTS MAP
MAD COW
AT CANTERBURY ’ S NEW GARLINGE THEATRE
A bold and adventurous new musical is putting the meat industry in the crosshairs and deepening the conversation about our relationship with meat through its uplifting coming-of-age story , due to open at Canterbury ’ s Garlinge Theatre - the UK ’ s first vegan theatre - this July . The darkly comic satire with a compelling , universal story marks an unmissable debut for Quaestio Productions .
Mad Cow ( cast to be announced soon ) turns a darkly comic hand to hot-button issues , including small-scale factory farming and the ethics of eating meat . Through hauntingly memorable music and satirical storytelling , it spins an inspirational , universal tale about what happens when you disagree with those closest to you and what it takes to stand up for your beliefs .
The creative team at Quaestio Productions say they are bracing for criticism after the theatre received threats of boycotts when it announced it wouldn ’ t allow animal products to be consumed on the premises at its opening earlier this year . Neither the theatre nor the producers have an agenda to convert audiences to veganism , but they share a commitment to using theatre as a space to raise awareness about important issues , where the public can ask questions .
Combining tones of Okja and Fantastic Mr . Fox , Mad Cow takes audiences on a madcap adventure into the realms of magical realism . The musical centres on 14-year-old Martha Woolf who lives with her family on their small-scale farm in North Wales . Her sisters and parents are more concerned with Pony Club and keeping up with their well-to-do neighbours than caring for the wellbeing of their animals . But Martha is different . The black sheep of the family , she is more connected to the cows and pigs than to her relatives . When circumstances threaten the animals she cares about most , Martha is pushed to extreme lengths to save them .
Mad Cow is the hotly anticipated debut musical of Quaestio Productions , a brandnew company led by Hero Douglas , who has previously performed at the Royal Festival
Hall , Bridgewater Hall and The National Theatre . Quaestio - which means to question - makes gutsy , opinionated musicals in which global issues crash with family dynamics .
www . quaestioproductions . co . uk garlingetheatre quaestioproductions thegarlingetheatre
Close Up Please Studio Open Days 2024
June 21st 22nd 23rd July 12th 13th 14th
Etchings , watercolours , posters , books , cards and more ...
Up The Garden Studio White Cottage , Green Lane , Boughton Monchelsea , Kent , ME17 4LF We are open by appointment throughout the year , hello @ grahamclarke . co . uk 07801 922081 www . grahamclarke . co . uk www . insidekent . co . uk • 37 67