Burke and Hare marks a new direction in Ophaboom's work, as it is a scripted, mainly unmasked production, aimed at ages 15+. The distinctive Ophaboom performance style remains, with its tight ensemble playing and irreverent humour.

The play is loosely based on the real life stories of Burke and Hare, the infamous 19th century Edinburgh body snatchers. It will draw its inspiration from such diverse roots as the original Burke and Hare legend, Gothic horror, Victorian detective novels, Jack the Ripper conspiracy theories, modern ‘body parts’ stories, and vaudeville double acts.

Burke and Hare explores the very contemporary themes of scientific morals and the degree to which life is sacred. Ophaboom has always drawn parallels to contemporary issues through the quasi-Mediaeval setting of its commedia dell’arte performance style. The company has always found that giving its work this ‘distance’ provides freedom to explore contemporary issues, often through the deliberate use of anachronism. By setting this show in the murky world of Burke and Hare, but drawing on literary and cultural influences, the company gives itself free reign to explore issues of a contemporary nature.

The show's design evokes the stoneclad chill of Burke and Hare's 19th century Edinburgh, employing lighting and sound to allow fluid changes of location and to make the show adaptable to wide range of different performance spaces.

Company Background
Ophaboom has created and internationally toured eight productions since its establishment in 1991, and has been a regular recipient of Arts Council England project grants for touring. In November 2002 Ophaboom made its off-West-End debut when Robin Hood was presented at Riverside Studios. This production was named by TimeOut as one of the Top Ten Critics Choices of 2002.

The Creative Team : Director
Howard Gayton trained at Exeter and with Desmond Jones before co-founding Ophaboom in 1991 and has directed all of the company's shows to date. In addition to his work with Ophaboom, Howard is an associate of the Little Angel puppet theatre in London, and has directed numerous shows there which have gone on to tour nationally. He has worked extensively with Liverpool's Hope Street theatre college, both as a workshop leader and a director of productions.

The Creative Team : Ensemble
Geoff Beale co-founded Ophaboom in 1991 and is the company's co-Artistic Director. He has performed in all Ophaboom's shows and trained with Desmond Jones, Antonio Fava and Carlo Boso. Sarah Ratheram is a long-standing ensemble member who trained at Oxford and East 15. They will be joined by three other performers (casting to be confirmed).

The Creative Team : Writers
John Finnemore and Owen Powell have worked together as writing partners on previous projects, and have impressive writing credits to their names as individual writers. John Finnemore won a Scotsman Fringe First nomination in 2001 for his play Amy Evans’ Strike and attracted national press acclaim for his most recent works, The Straight Man (Edinburgh Fringe 2002) and Told You So (London Fringe 2002). Owen Powell wrote and directed Far Too Happy, a Perrier Best Newcomer nominated comedy at Edinburgh Fringe 2001. Other writing credits include Naivety Play (Cambridge 1999) and Memoirs of a Dead Man (Edinburgh 2000), both of which premiered to critical acclaim. Owen is currently directing the stand-up comedian Alex Horne, and gained a second Perrier Best Newcomer nomination for his 2003 Edinburgh show Making Fish Laugh.

Key information

Running time:
90 minutes plus interval

Age suitability:
15+