Let us tempt you to the edge of town for a night of theatre, music and myth at DIDO'S BAR.
Set in a music club teetering on the edge of belonging, DIDO'S BAR is a new immersive theatre production premiering at the Royal Docks. Expect an evening of sumptuous music and electrifying storytelling as divine bar owners, Juno and Venus, welcome world-class artists onto their stage and around their performances, our drama unfolds.
DIDO'S BAR is an epic retelling of Virgil’s Aeneid, a story of migration, love and assimilation. Retold for the 21st century through the eyes of refugees today, the work is inspired by Director Josephine’s encounter with Kurdish Iranian refugee and now Finnish resident Composer, Marouf Majidi. Marouf’s personal and musical contribution, alongside Playwright Hattie Naylor, Josephine, the cast and the Dido’s Bar House Band, is the heartbeat of our tale.
A Dash Arts production, DIDO'S BAR is co-produced in the UK with the Royal Docks Team, Oxford Contemporary Music and Journeys Festival and co-commissioned by Oxford Contemporary Music, with additional support from Arts Council England, Backstage Trust, The Foyle Foundation, Projekt, Cockayne – Grants for the Arts, The London Community Foundation, Genesis Foundation, Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, The Marchus Trust, TINFO – Theatre Info Finland, Austin and Hope Pilkington, Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, The Leche Trust and Dido’s Bar Giving Circle.
DIDO's BAR is produced by Dash Arts with Impossible Producing, and programmed by the Royal Docks Team (not by Stratford East). The event will take place at Unit F, The Factory, Factory Rd, Royal Docks, London E16 2HB.
Runtime: 2 hours 30 mins (including interval)
TICKETS
Preview Prices (23 - 27 Sep)
Full Price £15
14-25 year olds £7.50 (please note: proof of age will be checked at the venue)
Newham Residents £7.50 (please note: proof of address will be checked at the venue)
Prices (28 Sep - 15 Oct)
Full Price £25
14-25 year olds £10 (please note: proof of age will be checked at the venue)
Newham Residents £10 (please note: proof of address will be checked at the venue)
CAST
Gemma Barnett as Matina
Priscille Grace as Venus
Tuukka Leppänen as Turnus
Lola May as Dido
Lahcen Razzougui as Aeneas
Georgina White as Juno
CREATIVE TEAM
Conceived and Directed by Josephine Burton
Written by Hattie Naylor
Composed by Marouf Majidi with additional composition by Riku Kantola
Set and Costume Design by Bryan Woltjen
Music and Sound arranged, designed, and directed by Riku Kantola
Movement Direction by Ayse Tashkiran
Lighting Design by Peter Small
Produced by Charlie Bunker
More Information
Venue: Unit F, The Factory, Factory Rd, Royal Docks, London E16 2HB (cabaret seating will be assigned on arrival)
Times: doors open at 1.15pm for 2pm shows, please arrive no later than 1.45pm for a 2pm show. Doors open at 6.45pm for 7.30pm shows, please arrive no later than 7.15pm for a 7.30pm show.
Age Guidance: 14+ (this show contains strong language & violence. Please note there is a large glitter ball reflecting lights that could affect people with photosensitive conditions).
Access: BSL Interpreted performance - Fri 07 Oct, 7.30pm. Wheelchair access throughout, disabled parking available (please contact us if you will need to use a disabled parking space). Some socially distanced tables will be available on a first come first served basis.
