“ HOIPOLLOI has enormous fun examining the nature of make-believe and the power of the imagination while revealing the trick of theatre itself ” THE DOUBTFUL GUEST Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
PHOTO: STEFANIE MUELLER RICHARD COULDREY
HOIPOLLOI is an expression from Greek, meaning
‘ THE COMMON PEOPLE ’
HOIPOLLOI first opened its rehearsal room doors in October 1993 and presented its first production, THE NAKED KING OF THE MORNING, in February 1994 in London, UK. Based in Cambridge, UK, HOIPOLLOI was established by ShĂ´n Dale-Jones and Stefanie Mueller. Over the last twenty-five years the company has made over twenty new and original award-winning theatre and comedy shows which have toured all over the UK and around the world, produced online digital work, recorded several radio plays with BBC Radio 4 and made a variety of work for the screen. The company produces the writing of Artistic Director, ShĂ´n Dale-Jones, changing shape and size according to the scale and needs of each project. It maximises the benefits of being independent and flexible, agile enough to respond to current events, making work that is immediately relevant.
PHOTO: JAIMIE GRAMSTON
HOIPOLLOI has presented‌
22 shows in over 160 UK venues across 9 London theatres in17 countries across 6 continents at over 20 festivals worldwide
HOIPOLLOI'S mission is to bring people together around stories that weave the personal with the political, mixing fantasy and reality, challenging our perspective, making people laugh, cry and imagine. As Bunuel says, “ reality and fantasy are equally important and equally felt and so their confusion is a matter of only relative importance.” Since 2015, HOIPOLLOI has been focussed on making work that aims to inspire social action in audiences, partnering with charities to present shows, offering a new model for theatre and social justice. So far the company has raised £75,000 for children refugees and street-connected children working with Save The Children and Street Child United.
While we live in very challenging times, with divisions appearing all over society, we need to find our common ground. Today, theatre has a very real and exciting opportunity to support social change through encouraging empathy and solidarity. HOIPOLLOI aims to harness the value of art and the power of story, finding ways of immediately and directly engaging with what’s happening in our rapidly changing world.
HOIPOLLOI has made a wide variety of work - from lavish ensemble pieces to solo shows with with no props, no set, no costume. The company have played big bold physical theatre shows to audiences of over 600 people a night, created intimate experiences for an audience of 4 and broadcast radio plays to over 1 million listeners. HOIPOLLOI has told stories in charity shops, pubs, cafés, fields, schools, streets, forests, cinemas and theatres. From a field in Cambridgeshire to the Sydney Opera House; from a community centre in The Highlands to the Barbican; from a shop in Llangefni to the Royal Court….
HOIPOLLOI has won several awards…
LIVE SHOWS FILMS OUTDOOR PRODUCTIONS RADIO
S T I L L F L O AT I N G T H E L A D D E R ME & ROBIN HOOD for BBC Radio 4 THE DUKE for BBC Radio 4 ME & ROBIN HOOD THE DUKE H A S H H E L M E T, B B C T V TA S T E R THINGS I FORGOT I REMEMBERED CAN I HELP? SWIM TO OZ A DISAPPEARING TOWN f o r B B C R a d i o 4 M A M H O W I G O T H E R E 3 6 0 F L O AT I N G for BBC Radio 4 T H E D O U B T F U L G U E S T S T O R Y O F A R A B B I T THE IMPOSTOR HOLDING HANDS F L O A T I N G A B L A Z E ! T H E M A N N E X T D O O R MY UNCLE ARLY MARRY MARIA S W E E T B O B A B O L A L I V I N G L I K E V I C T O R D E A D O N T H E G R O U N D H O N E S T LY B A C K WA S H T H E B R E E Z E A M O K THE NAKED KING OF THE MORNING PHOTO: RICHARD COULDREY
Places played by HOIPOLLOI ABERDEEN ABERGAVENNY ABERYSTWYTH ACCRINGTON ALMERE, HOLLAND AMBLESIDE ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA AMSTELVEEN, HOLLAND AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND ANDOVER, USA ANGLESEY ARMAGH ARNHEM, HOLLAND ARUNDEL BANGOR B AT H BEACONSFIELD BEDFORD B E L FA S T BARNET BIRMINGHAM BLACKPOOL BODMIN BERLIN, GERMANY BOSTON BOURN BOURNEMOUTH BOGOTA, COLUMBIA BRACKNELL BRADFORD BREDA, HOLLAND BRIDGEWATER BRIGHTON BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA BRISTOL BRIDPORT BRUSSELS, BELGIUM BUILTH WELLS BURNLEY CARDIFF CARDIGAN CARLISLE CARMARTHEN CHARLESTON, USA CHELTENHAM CHIPPING NORTON CIRENCESTER COLCHESTER COLUMBUS, USA CORK, IRELAND CORSHAM CRAWLEY CUMBERNAULD DARLINGTON DARTFORD CREWE DELFT, HOLLAND DENVER, USA DERBY DORDRECHT, HOLLAND DUBLIN, IRELAND DUMFRIES DUNSTABLE EAST GRINSTEAD EASTBOURNE EASTLEIGH EDINBURGH EINDHOVEN, HOLLAND EXETER FELIXSTOWE ENSCHEDE, HOLLAND GAINSBOROUGH FRANKFURT A.D. ODER, GERMANY GEEL, BELGIUM G H E N T, B E L G I U M G A LW AY, I R E L A N D G L A S T O N B U R Y G O O L E G L A S G O W GRANTHAM G R E AT D U N M O W GOUDA, HOLLAND GUERNSEY GREAT TORRINGTON GRONINGEN, HOLLAND GÄVLE, SWEDEN HAARLEM, HOLLAND GUILDFORD HALESWORTH HALIFAX HARLECH HARLOW HAVERHILL HEMEL HEMPSTEAD HEREFORD HELSINKI, FINLAND HIGH WYCOMBE HOBART, AUSTRALIA HOLYHEAD HOUNSLOW HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ, CZECH REPUBLIC HUDDERSFIELD JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA KENDAL JERSEY KINGSTON K I N G ’ S LY N N LA, USA KESWICK L A U N C E S T O N , TA S M A N I A LEICESTER LAUNCESTON LIVERPOOL LEEDS LLANGEFNI LINCOLN L O N D O N - B A C , A R T S D E P O T, B A R B I C A N , R O YA L C O U R T ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, SOHO THEATRE, UNICORN, ROUNDHOUSE,
NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
YOUNG VIC M A A S T R I C H T, H O L L A N D MAIDENHEAD MANCHESTER MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES MARLBOROUGH MIDDLESBOROUGH MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA MILTON KEYNES MINNEAPOLIS, USA MOLD MOLLINGTON M O S S , N O R W AY NANTWICH M O S C O W, R U S S I A NEW YORK, USA NEWBURY NEWCASTLE NEW MILTON NIJMEGEN, HOLLAND N E W C A S T L E - U N D E R - LY M E NORWICH NOTTINGHAM OLDHAM NORTHAMPTON OSWESTRY OUNDLE OXFORD O S L O , N O R W AY PARIS, FRANCE PENZANCE PETERBOROUGH PAISLEY PLYMOUTH POOLE PORTSMOUTH POTSDAM, GERMANY R E A D I N G R I C K M A N S W O RT H P W L L H E L I S A D D L E W O R T H R O T T E R D A M , H O L L A N D S A L F O R D S A L I S B U R Y S C U N T H O R P E 'S-HERTOGEN BOSCH (DEN BOSCH), HOLLAND SHREWSBURY SINGAPORE SHERRINGHAM SOUTHAMPTON SOUTHEND-ON-SEA SLIGO, IRELAND S PA L D I N G ST AUSTELL ST HELENS SOUTHPORT SUDBURY SWAFFHAM SWANSEA S TA M F O R D TA U N T O N TAV I S T O C K S Y D N E Y, A U S T R A L I A TILBURG, HOLLAND THE HAGUE, HOLLAND TORONTO, CANADA TOTNES TRURO TUNBRIDGE WELLS UPPINGHAM U T R E C H T, H O L L A N D ULLAPOOL VELDHOVEN, HOLLAND VANCOUVER, CANADA WAALWIJK, HOLLAND VICTORIA, CANADA W A R W I C K W A T F O R D W A L S A L L WELLINGBOROUGH WEAVERHAM WELWYN GARDEN CITY W I G A N W I N C H E S T E R W I D N E S W O L L O N G O N G , A U S T R A L I A W I S B E C H W O R T H I N G W O L V E R H A M P T O N Z W O L L E , H O L L A N D
1994 - 2019
HOIPOLLOI people include‌ Adam Cork Alex Byrne Alex Drury Alex Rudd Anatole Steinberg Andrew Pembrooke Andy Devonshire Annie Needham Barbara Kaesbhorer Becky Schutt Ben Frimston Bianca Winter Bill Miller Bill Fisher
Carmel Schenck Cassie Friend Cath Longman Chenine Bhathena Clive Mendus Damian Hebron Dante Rendle-Traynor David Pagan David Sabel David Ralfe David Sant Dee Reed Emma Dunton Finbar Levesy Frankie Wing Gaetan Schmid Gamelial Rendle-Traynor Gary Smith Georgina Bednar Gwen Dale-Jones Gracia Del Rust Guy Myhill
Hamish Pirie Hannah Wolfe Hans DeWisser Harry Holtzman Hendrik McDermott Ian Brown James Burgess Jaimie Gramston Jason Turner Javier Marzan Jill Norman Jo Diver Jo Ridout Jo Turner John Biddle John Nicholson Jonathan Goodacre Jonathan Stone Josie Dale-Jones Julian Spooner Juliet O’Brien Judith Body Justine Watkins-Fife Katherine Williams
Laura Scrivano Lisa Heledd-Jones Louise Coles Lottie Lings Marieke Audsley Marine Benech Mark Bell Mark Butcher Matt Spencer Mick Barnfather Mim Spencer Nancy Poole Natalia Martinez Soria Ned Bauer Patrick Morris Paul Bogen Peter Harrison Rachel Aspinwall Rachel Parslew Richard Couldrey Richard Heeps Richard Katz Richard Watson Robert Lancaster Roger Nelson Rowan Pashley Ruth Sapsed
Sara Hirsch Sarah Crompton Saul Dibb Simon Bedford Shôn Dale-Jones Sophie Russel Sophie Vaughan Stefanie Mueller Steve Waters Susie Schutt Sylvia O’Dell Tom Cotterill Tony Gash Trond-Erik Vassdal Trui Malten Wes Fife Zoe Svendsen
“ an extraordinary sight, hilarious yet touching in the human fragility it conveys… brilliantly effective in its simplicity ”
FLOATING Maddy Costa, The Guardian
PHOTO: JAIMIE GRAMSTON
HOIPOLLOI has presented…
22 new stage plays 2 outdoor events 1 audio walk 4 BBC Radio 4 plays 1 online project 5 films
“At last, the show we’ve all been waiting for. Bursting at the seams with theatrical energy and full to the brim with visual wit… Sensationally silly and utterly brilliant ” MY UNCLE ARLY Sunday Herald
PHOTO: JAIMIE GRAMSTON
“ this is theatre as a salve, and it cannot fail to draw you in” STORIES FROM AN INVISIBLE TOWN A Younger Theatre
A D E L A I D E F E S T I V A L B E L F A S T F E S T I V A L B R I G H T O N F E S T I V A L CAIRDE FESTIVAL,SLIGO C A R L I S L E F R I N G E DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL E D I N B U R G H F R I N G E EXIT FESTIVAL,SWEDEN G L A S T O N B U R Y GOLDEN MASK FESTIVAL, MOSCOW I B E R O - A M E R I C A N T H E A T R E F E S T I V A L , B O G O TA L A T I T U D E L O N D R E S S U R S C E N E , PA R I S N O N S T O P F E S T I V A L , N O R W AY PUSH FESTIVAL, VANCOUVER S P O L E T O F E S T I VA L , C H A R L E S T O N U S A S Y D N E Y F E S T I V A L TEN DAYS ON THE ISLAND, T A S M A N I A W I L D E R N E S S
PHOTO: JAIMIE GRAMSTON
HOIPOLLOI continually engages with‌ creative artists, producers, managers, festivals, presenters, charities and theatres to deliver their work through dynamic and effective partnerships
PHOTO: GERAINT LEWIS
Over the last 25 years our partners have included:
A R T S C O U N C I L E N G L A N D T H E B R I T I S H C O U N C I L B A R B I C A N N AT I O N A L T H E AT R E S T U D I O S N A T I O N A L T H E A T R E W A L E S S Y D N E Y O P E R A H O U S E C A R R I A G E W O R K S , S Y D N E Y U N I V E R S I T Y O F E A S T A N G L I A R O YA L C O U RT PA L A C E T H E AT R E , WAT F O R D N E W W O L S E Y T H E AT R E , I P S W I C H ETT T H E AT R E R O YA L , N O RT H A M P T O N T H E A T R E R O Y A L , P L Y M O U T H CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION LIVERPOOL EVERYMAN B B C T V C O M E D Y B B C R A D I O 4 C A M B R I D G E F I L M F E S T I V A L N O R F O L K & N O R W I C H F E S T I VA L P L E A S A N C E T H E A T R E T R U S T P
B
J
M
A
N
A
G
E
M
E
N
T
HOIPOLLOI has worked with‌
50
over managers, producers & administrators
60 artists from 11 countries and over
PHOTO: GERAINT LEWIS
“Thoughtful and quietly powerful”
THE DUKE Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman
“ An inventive piece of storytelling magic - a charming comic drama with a heart of steel ” ME & ROBIN HOOD BBC Radio 4 Pick of the Week
“ engaging and thoughtful as it gnaws away at inequality of opportunities and the widening gap between rich and poor, and asks whether art really can change the world ”
“ This is such a clever and satisfying piece of theatre. A show about death that is thoroughly life-enhancing. A show that embraces so much about working-class male culture and small-town life, in a manner that is humorous but never cruel or condescending ” THE LADDER Total Theatre
ME & ROBIN HOOD The Guardian
“ Charming, surreal, warmhearted… a piece of genius”
“ This is art that practices its preaching: made for nothing, but doing something. And delighting as it does, just as art should. You won’t find a show with a bigger, better heart anywhere on the Fringe ”
“ Utterly entertaining… side-splitting… charming, charismatic… ”
T HE DUKE What’s On Stage
“ should be prescribed as medicine for depressives ” STORY OF A RABBIT Metro
FLOATING The Scotsman
FLOATING The Globe and Mail - Canada
“ gem of a show” FLOATING Australian Stage
“ Delightfully daft… warmly optimistic ” 360 Metro
“ This is an inspiring, entertaining evening, full of underlying truths about what it is to be human ” S TORIES FROM AN INVISIBLE TOWN The Telegraph PHOTO: GERAINT LEWIS
Venues HOIPOLLOI has played include…
I N
L O N D O N
R O YA L C O U R T ARTSDEPOT
B A R B I C A N
ROUNDHOUSE
UNICORN
YOUNG VIC
BAC
S O H O T H E AT R E
R O YA L O P E R A H O U S E
I N U K L I V E R P O O L E V E R Y M A N N
O
R
T
T R AV E R S E
H
E
N
T
E
N
S
T
A
G
E
T H E AT R E R O YA L P LY M O U T H
BRIGHTON DOME I
R
R
N
CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION A
T
I
O
N
A
L
A R T S C L U B T H E AT R E , VA N C O U V E R B A R R O W S T R E E T T H E AT R E , N E W Y O R K T H E AT R E D E V I L L E T T E , PA R I S H A R B O U R F R O N T T H E AT R E , T O R O N T O
N AT I O N A L M U S E U M O F S I N G A P O R E S Y D N E Y
O P E R A
H O U S E
PHOTO: RICHARD HEEPS
PHOTO: JAIMIE GRAMSTON
“ highly intelligent, beautifully performed ” STORIES FROM AN INVISIBLE TOWN Time Out
HOIPOLLOI has run hundreds of workshops for a wide variety of participants‌ The workshops have been run all over the UK and internationally, including Belgium, USA, Australia, Canada, Germany and Singapore. We have worked with a variety of organisations to deliver workshops in writing, improvisation and comedy, including the Royal Court; Barbican; Theatre Royal, Plymouth; University of East Anglia; University of Cambridge and The British Council.
“heartfelt and insightful stuff that has great power to move ”
STORY OF A RABBIT Evening Standard
PHOTO: GERAINT LEWIS
“ It is a testament to the dexterity and ability of this company that even as they deconstruct their stagecraft they remain able to harness its power” FLOATING Total Theatre
PHOTO: SHÔN DALE-JONES
W I T H T H A N K S L O N G S T A N D I S U P P O R T F R
T O N G O M
C E L E B R AT I N G 2 5 Y E A R S