Tuesday, 8 October 2019

NEWS: November sees Fringe-First winning play The Duke come to North Wales' Theatr Clwyd.



Shôn Dale-Jones’ tours to Theatr Clwyd with his Fringe First Award-winning show which has raised over £50,000 for Save the Children’s Emergency Fund.

In 2016, Shôn Dale-Jones premiered a ground-breaking solo show, which raised a mammoth £36,500 for Save the Children in the first year of touring and set Hoipolloi on the beginning of a journey to create theatre work that raises money and profile for charitable causes. A charming story about choosing priorities in an overwhelming world, The Duke proved to be a smash hit in Edinburgh over the last two years and with audiences throughout the UK and internationally.

The Duke weaves together the tragi-comic fate of a family heirloom - a porcelain figure of The Duke of Wellington, the quandary of a scriptwriter stretching his integrity, and an unfolding disaster as thousands of children flee their homes. From the writer/performer behind Hugh Hughes (Story of a Rabbit, 360, The Wonderful World of Hugh Hughes), The Duke is a funny and poignant show that mixes fantasy and reality, playfully challenging our priorities in a world full of crisis.

In 2018 The Duke was made into a radio play for BBC Radio 4, achieving ‘Pick of the Week’ and in the same year the radio play was nominated for a Prix Europa Award in the ‘Best European Radio Fiction’ category. In 2018, at the Edinburgh Fringe, the show was also highly commended in the Sit Up and Act Awards for its services to charity and has to date, raised over £50,000 for child refugees.

In 2019, it may feel like the refugee crisis has disappeared, with less media reporting and stories of war. And yet, destruction across the globe continues and many of those that left their homes during the crisis find themselves homelessness across Europe. For this tour, audiences will be asked to buy a ticket and bring cash to the show to Save the Children’s Emergency Fund, supporting children who face crisis across the Globe, including those who still attempt the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean.

Commenting on The Duke Shôn says:

“I made The Duke back in 2016 because I wanted to find a way of doing something practical about the refugees' crisis. I couldn’t watch more images of the terrifying reality that these people are suffering without contributing towards the relief effort. I’m not a doctor or an engineer - I’m a writer/performer - and so I decided I could write a show which connects us to the crisis and raises money to support Save The Children’s work. I have been massively inspired by the support offered by theatres, presenters and audiences thus far and I am thrilled to be touring The Duke again and raising money and awareness for Save the Children’s ‘Emergency Fund.”

A piece that is constantly questioning what we value and hold dear"
Lyn Gardner - The Guardian


The Duke can be seen at Theatr Clwyd (Theatr Emlyn Williams) Mon 11 – Wed 13 November at 7.45pm. Tickets priced from £10 are available from the Theatre Clwyd Box Office on 01352 344101 or at www.theatrclwyd.com. The Duke is suitable for audiences aged 12+

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