The Machine
★★★★ - "Immersive and engaging fun for all the family..." Broadway Baby
★★★★ - "Playfully silly and visually captivating" Three Weeks
The Machine is a piece of interactive indoor or street theatre for all ages. Currently Touring Spring/Summer 2013!
For 3000 years Professor Allen’s Machine has traveled around the world planting all the trees, the grass, the flowers and chocolate pie. Sorry, not chocolate pie. This morning, for the first time ever, he called in sick (he has a very poorly tummy and he might be gone sometime). His two bumbling assistants have been left in charge. They’re completely useless and they need your help!
The Machine is a piece of interactive street performance and engages the audience in a new and innovative way. The performers use suggestions from the audience to help them fix the machine which is powered by bicycles and over 3 meters tall. The audience sit on the bicycles and pedal in order to animate the machine building to a finale where sunflower seeds pour out for every child to take home and plant.
For 3000 years Professor Allen’s Machine has traveled around the world planting all the trees, the grass, the flowers and chocolate pie. Sorry, not chocolate pie. This morning, for the first time ever, he called in sick (he has a very poorly tummy and he might be gone sometime). His two bumbling assistants have been left in charge. They’re completely useless and they need your help!
The Machine is a piece of interactive street performance and engages the audience in a new and innovative way. The performers use suggestions from the audience to help them fix the machine which is powered by bicycles and over 3 meters tall. The audience sit on the bicycles and pedal in order to animate the machine building to a finale where sunflower seeds pour out for every child to take home and plant.
Cast & Creative 2012:
Directed by Carly McConnell and William Aubrey-Jones
Designer: William Aubrey-Jones, Peter John-Morton
Cast: William Aubrey-Jones and Peter John-Morton
Construction: William Aubrey-Jones, Peter John-Morton, Lucy Western, Rebecca Waller with thanks to The Gulbenkian Theatre
Cast & Creative 2011:
Directed by Carly McConnell and William Aubrey-Jones
Produced by: Lewis Barron
Designer: William Aubrey-Jones with thanks to George Holland
Consultant Engineer: Jonathan White
Cast: Jake Juba, Chris Lawrence
Construction: William Aubrey-Jones, Faith Austin, Lewis Barron, Alex Fleetham, Ashly Hardman, Heather Mort, Peter John-Morton, Will Train, Lucy Western, with thanks to Sam Westbury
Directed by Carly McConnell and William Aubrey-Jones
Designer: William Aubrey-Jones, Peter John-Morton
Cast: William Aubrey-Jones and Peter John-Morton
Construction: William Aubrey-Jones, Peter John-Morton, Lucy Western, Rebecca Waller with thanks to The Gulbenkian Theatre
Cast & Creative 2011:
Directed by Carly McConnell and William Aubrey-Jones
Produced by: Lewis Barron
Designer: William Aubrey-Jones with thanks to George Holland
Consultant Engineer: Jonathan White
Cast: Jake Juba, Chris Lawrence
Construction: William Aubrey-Jones, Faith Austin, Lewis Barron, Alex Fleetham, Ashly Hardman, Heather Mort, Peter John-Morton, Will Train, Lucy Western, with thanks to Sam Westbury
Funding:
- The Machine was initially funded as part of 'themadproject', by Canterbury City Council and the Marlowe Theatre.
- It then received a development grant from Applause and PANeK in 2011 to rework it ready for Applause Outdoors. The Machine is commissioned for a rural tour for Summer 2012.
- Additional support towards marketing expenses to take The machine to the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe has been granted by Year One Consulting as part of their SHOW:Prize fund.
- We are also very grateful to The Gulbenkian Theatre who have given us the use of their workshop. The space has been invaluable in trying to build something so large!
