Kemp's Jig

22 Apr 2019 - 23 Apr 2019
7:30 pm
Tara Arts Theatre
Earlsfield
SW18 5EH

Join Will Kemp, Shakespeare's forgotten clown on his 125 mile Morris Dance from London to Norwich.  

This is a hilarious and bawdy one man show based on Kemp's own book, “The Nine Daies Wonder”, Will Kemp, a purveyor of “mad jests & merry jigs”, was a famous Elizabethan actor, and a shareholder with Shakespeare in the  Company of Lord Chamberlain’s men. 

Will Kemp was a comic superstar, a top banana of his day. His hilarious sketches or “jigs” were famous throughout England, he was one of the original command performers when a royal command really did mean a summons from the Monarch. He went into partnership with classical actor Richard Burbage and up & coming playwright William Shakespeare, and was the original Touchstone, Dogberry and Launcelot Gobbo.  Kemp being a master of his comedic art, though  (and by account not a team player), trouble was bound to follow. According to Kemp ”Shakerags” had absolutely no concept of what humour was about and their volatile relationship is the basis of many of the running jokes in the play.

Kemp's original publicuty seeking Morris dance occurred in either 1599 or 1600 depending on which calendar is used.  Blue Fire are pleased to be reviving the play  on the event's 420 th anniversary (both this year and next!).  "Kemp's Jig"  has previously been seen at the Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and in 55 countries around the world.  It was the subject of a TV documentary (introduced by Sir Peter Hall) and toured with Sam Wanamaker's company to raise sponsorship for the building of Shakespeare's Globe.

Fans of "Upstart Crow" "Shakespeare in Love" will enjoy the show's irreverance and will cheer the maverick Kemp on his way.

Presented by Blue Fire Theatre Co.

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