The Anarchy (1138-53)

‘Theatrical Saboteurs’ Doppelgangster (UK/Aus) bring their latest, miraculous work about living in dark times, violence, and disorder.

A medieval faire is being set-up: Welcome to the small, very fictional, market town of Cross Roads; under the guidance of Doppelgangster’s resident historian, an expert in the Civil War of England and Normandy, 1138-1153. Then an arrow whizzes through the theatre and the fragile pretense of order descends into, well, you know, you read the title didn’t you? The performers are climbing a siege tower, crashing through castle walls, attempting necromancy, and someone (at least) will be tortured (strictly medieval methods).

The Anarchy (1138-53) follow the dark forest path of the artists’ prior works:'To Die Will Be An Awfully Big Adventure' (Theatre Works, 2024),‘Doppelgangster’s TITANIC’, ‘Cold War’, and ‘Puntila/Matti - works which have generated walkouts, physical fights, cancellations by venues less open to risk than where ever this is playing now (TheatreWorks? Ok great!), along with cult followings and critical acclaim. It’s part shocking anticomedy, part historical folk-horror, part pagan ritual, and part pyschedelic experimental performance.

Galloping in on hobby horses and centaurs and the hand-forged armory of the nerdiest of folk events, Doppelgangster drag the limited storytelling of modern Medieval/Renaissance Fairs and reconcile them with the darkest of pasts.