Crimson Retribution – Ninjabread at the Theatre
on September 21, 2011 at 12:24 pmThe year is 1986, and Season 2 of the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon concludes in 1986. Only months later the Transformers Movie is released, where Victor Caroli informs us in his opening monologue “It is the year 2005…”. What happened to the Transformers in the intervening years? Well, I could tell you, but instead I’m going to tell you a little about what happened during Ninjabread’s summer hiatus. Come my friend, let me tell you of the Crimson Retribution…
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you crossed Shameless with Batman? No, me neither. But it’s a thought that obviously occurred to Steve Pearce, writer and producer of The Crimson Retribution and the result, premiering at Manchester’s 24:7 Theatre Festival, is a sharp, witty, darkly funny piece of theatre.
Yes, Ninjabread got involved with a theatre production. A superhero theatre production – possibly my favourite form of theatre (behind musical theatre). The poster illustrations were done by fellow Manchester illustrator Hammo. Hammo also produced a series of comic-cook style background illustrations which were back-projected onto the set to give the actors the feeling of inhabiting a larger-than-life world. I was called in by MEN Theatre Award nominated playwright Steve Pearce to animate the transitions, moving between scenes in such a way the audience felt they were moving between panels of a comic book – much like the classic Grange Hill opening. Only without the sausage.
I got to see the production on the sold-out opening night, and was thrilled to see my name in the programme. It was a dark comedy (a far cry from Manchester’s other summer superhero theatre – Batman Live) with lush production values.
Cast in rehearsals – left-to-right: Paul Sockett, David Degiorgio, Al James and Emily Fleeshman.
What did other people think?
“…the bastard love-child of Sin City and Coronation Street … Director Clare Howdon has clearly worked hard with her creative team to fashion a technically impressive and highly imaginative production. It’s only budgetary and spatial considerations that stop this show from being as slick and flash as something staged by the National Theatre.“
“Director Clare Howdon widens the references from the comics to include references also to films – the fight after the mugging taking place in Matrix style slow motion. She uses local artist Hammo’s clear and bright graphics as much more than just background setting the scene for the frightening city at night and creating the disorienting effect of the attack upon Amy. “ ★★★★★
“This production is really well designed, with a changing backdrop showing cityscapes, a cartoon bar and a street scene – before which various physical and comic fights (and a car accident) happen. “
