Punch Drunk
10th Anniversary Production
2004, 90 mins
‘Characters such as these are theatrical gold dust, tugging at the heartstrings with their unrequited enthusiasm.’ The Scotsman
Against a backdrop of decaying theatrical grandeur, Punch Drunk finds six extraordinary performers moving like ghosts through a disused theatre. Slipping in and out of half-remembered acts, they piece together the tatters of a show long since past its prime. Emotionally raw and darkly humorous, Punch Drunk is an enthralling journey into the world of vaudeville and burlesque. Created in 2004 in celebration of Vincent Dance Theatre’s tenth anniversary.
Punch Drunk was originally commissioned in 2004 by Sheffield Theatres, and the Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster and funded by Arts Council England and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
To order a DVD copy and accompanying contextualising pack, please contact the VDT office.
Videos
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Soundclips
Director's Notes
Director’s Note 2007
Looking back on 10 years of making work is like reliving the shifting phases of my life in glorious Technicolor: sincere in the first duets we made, dark with sexual politicking in the mid-nineties, humour and playful later. As the company has grown and toured to far away places, the mixing up of nationalities, sexualities and ages has corresponded with the heady collision of dance, theatre and play that has always informed our work.
Punch Drunk was made in 2004 to mark Vincent Dance Theatre’s tenth anniversary. Ten years on, you have to smile. Ten years on, you can’t think short term anymore. You realise you might be here to stay.
Punch Drunk is a piece about six performers who are stuck in a theatre they cannot leave. It’s a piece about acts and the act of performance. It makes explicit the vulnerability of the performer. It makes transparent the expectations that exists between audience and performer.
We made Punch Drunk with our tongues planted firmly in our cheeks. The performers work hard, play hard and throw all caution to the wind. They revel in big dance numbers, colourful costumes and physically demanding acts. They take you into the dark underbelly of their lives, revealing things that you are not meant to see. They keep going through the chaos of it all, refusing to quit, through gritted teeth and painted on smiles.
This is the way the performers live their lives. I hope you enjoy the show.
Charlotte Vincent
Director’s Note 2004
Looking back on 10 years of making work is like reliving the shifting phases of my life in glorious Technicolor: sincere in the first duets we made, dark with sexual politicking in the mid-nineties, humour and playful later. As the company has grown and toured to far away places, the mixing up of nationalities, sexualities and ages has corresponded with the heady collision of dance, theatre and play that has always informed our work.
10 years on, and you have to smile. At this point in our careers we can’t think short term any more, In Punch Drunk the dancers work hard, play hard and throw all caution to the wind. They keep going in the chaos of their world, through gritted teeth and genuine smiles.
This is the way we live our lives. I hope you enjoy the show.
Charlotte Vincent
Who's Who
- Directed by
- Soundtrack by
- Set Design
- Lighting Design by
- Costume Design by
- Artistic Associate
- Devised and Performed by
- Repertoire performers include