FORTUNE THEATRE  THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Adapted for stage by Steven Canny and John Nicholson Directed by Patrick Davies Featuring: Patrick Davies, Nick Dunbar and Simon Leary 8 August – 5 September at Fortune Theatre, Dunedin 8-19 September on tour around Otago and Southland

Fortune Theatre proudly presents The Hound of the Baskervilles, a new farce where NOTHING is elementary. This zany, slapstick spoof follows three members of a theatre troupe haplessly trying to put on their version of this well-known classic against all odds.

Terror and uproarious mayhem ensue when Sherlock Holmes (Nick Dunbar) and his trusty sidekick Watson (Simon Leary) attempt to unravel the ancient curse of the Baskerville family (Patrick Davies) before the Hound claims its next victim.

Wonderfully barking spoof – The Daily Telegraph “If you loved The 39 Steps, a hilarious send-up of all the Hitchcock classics, then you'll love this treatment of this beloved Sherlock Holmes mystery,” says Artistic Director Lara Macgregor. “And if you didn’t think it was crazy enough already, in our production we are multiplying roles on-stage and off.

Patrick Davies will be directing and acting in the production. No easy task.” Gut-bustingly hilarious – The Times Director Patrick Davies says, “A boisterous mad-cap evening of ridiculous fun - and I thought The 39 Steps was a workout! Onstage with two highly talented comics who are also great mates is such a delight, we're having a ball rehearsing the show and we can't wait to bring it to our audiences. They'd better buckle in tight - it's going to be a bumpy ride! The male heirs of the Baskerville family are being knocked off one-by-one-and a very large canine is the leading suspect.

With only one heir to the Baskerville fortune left, Sir Henry Baskerville, Holmes and Watson may have met their match.

On Fortune Theatre mainstage 8 August – 5 September On tour around Otago and Southland 7-19 September: Tuesday, 8 September, Ranfurly Town Hall Book at i-Site Ranfurly, 2 Charlemont St, 03 262 7999 Wednesday, 9 September, Dunstan High School, Alexandra Book at i-Site Alexandra, 21 Centennial Ave, 03 262 7999 Thursday 10 September, Cromwell Memorial Hall Book at i-Site Cromwell, 2 The Mall, 03 262 7999 Friday 11 September, Lake Wanaka Centre Book at i-Site Wanaka, 103 Ardmore St, 03 443 1233 Saturday 12 September, Queenstown Memorial Hall Book at i-Site Queenstown, 22 Shotover St, 03 442 4100 or online at Eventfinder Tuesday 15 September, Fiordland Event Centre, Te Anau Book at Fab & Fitness, 66 Town Centre, 03 249 7309 Thursday 17 September, SIT Centrestage, Invercargill Book at SIT Centrestage, 33 Don St, Invercargill or online at Ticket Direct Friday 18 September, West Otago Community Centre, Tapanui Book at Ideal Print, 39 Northumberland, 03 204 8688 or online at iTicket Saturday 19 September, Balclutha Memorial Hall Book at Johnstone Electrical, 60 Clyde St, 03 418 0427 or online at iTicket

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CAST Patrick Davies, Nick Dunbar and Simon Leary CREW Writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson. Director Patrick Davies Set Designer Peter King Set Builder Richard Clark Lighting Designer Stephen Kilroy Sound Designer Matthew Morgan Costume Designer Maryanne Wright-Smyth Stage Manager George Wallace Properties Monique Webster

KEY EVENTS / DATES Lunchtime Bites | Thursday, 30 July meet at 12.15pm in the Dunedin Public Library, ground floor.

The actors will perform an excerpt from The Hound of the Baskervilles with an opportunity to win tickets. Reading will commence at 12.30pm followed by afternoon tea.

This is a FREE event. Opening Night | Saturday, 8 August 7.30pm, Fortune Theatre. Members’ Briefing | Sunday, 9 August meet at the Fortune bar at 3.00pm and join Fortune Theatre Artistic Director Lara Macgregor for a lively informal chat about The Hound 0f the Baskervilles.

Forum | Tuesday, 11 August - join the cast and crew for an open question and answer session following the 6.00pm show. About the writers Steven Canny (co-writer) Steven is a four-time Sony Gold winning Writer, Executive Producer and Director. As writer and adaptor his work includes: No Wise Men (Liverpool Playhouse); Origins (Pleasance and Theatre Severn); Foot/Mouth (Soho Theatre); Spyski (Lyric Hammersmith & National Tour); The Hound of the Baskervilles (West Yorkshire Playhouse, national tour, Duchess Theatre, West End and 30 international productions); A Dulditch Angel (national tour); A Shropshire Lad (R4 adaptation & Cottesloe); Mnemonic (R3 adaptation for Complicite); The Virtuous Burglar by Dario Fo (World Service).

Directing for stage and radio credits include: Rik Mayall’s Bedside Tales; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (with Simon Russell Beale); Brian Gulliver’s Travels by Bill Dare; Beautiful Dreamers by James Lever and Nat Segnit; Hum by Laura Wade; People Snogging in Public Places by Jack Thorne; Donation by Sean Buckley; Burglar Beware by Matthew Broughton (Union Chapel); Eleven Lessons For The Paranoid (BAC); The Observed (BAC).

As Executive Producer credits include: Just a Minute, Now Show, News Quiz and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. Work as Associate Director and Dramaturg with Complicite includes: Measure for Measure; The Elephant Vanishes; Mnemonic; The Noise of Time; Light; Genoa 01.

Steven was Associate Director of Al Pacino’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. John Nicholson (co-writer) John works as a writer, director and performer. He is an artistic director of Peepolykus with whom he has toured worldwide since 1995 in 10 productions including The Midsummer Rude Mechanicals (National Theatre). Performing credits include: No Wise Men (Liverpool Playhouse); The 13 Midnight Challenges of Angelus Diablo (Royal Shakespeare Company); Spyski, Jekyll and Hyde (Lyric Hammersmith); The Hound of the Baskervilles (West Yorkshire Playhouse and West End); The Wrong Door, The Bearded Ladies, P.S Sketch Show (BBC Comedy); Brian Gulliver’s Travels, Marley was Dead, Baskervilles (BBC Radio 4). Writing credits include: The Hound of the Baskervilles (West End and numerous licensed overseas productions); Rik Mayall’s Bedside Tales, Marley was Dead, Baskervilles (BBC Radio 4); Richard’s Rampage (Kevin Spacey Foundation) and Origins (Pentabus).

Recent directing includes: Force 9 (NYMT winner of MTM award); The First Thing That Ever Happened (Lyric Hammersmith); Advice on Watson and Oliver (BBC2); Sick Room (National Youth Theatre); Nina Conti - Dolly Mixtures and Mike Mcshane in Mon Droit (Edinburgh Festival and Touring), Paul Merton - Out Of His Head (West End).

Production Dates 8 August – 5 September, 2015 at Fortune Theatre, Dunedin. 8-19 September on tour around Otago and Southland.

Running Time Approx: 1 hr 55 mins, including interval

Venue Fortune Theatre, 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin Directed by Patrick Davies Cast Patrick Davies, Nick Dunbar and Simon Leary Performances Tuesday, 6.00pm, Wednesday - Saturday, 7.30pm, Sunday, 4.00pm (no show Monday) Tickets Gala (first 5 shows) $34, Adults $42, Senior Citizens $34, Members $32, Tertiary Students $20, High School Students $15, Group discount (10+) $34 Bookings Fortune Theatre, 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin Box Office 03 477 8323 or visit www.fortunetheatre.co.nz

For further information, imagery or interview/photo opportunities please contact: Lucy Summers, Marketing Manager T: (03) 477 1292 ext. 2 M: 021 108 3046 E: marketing@fortunetheatre.co.nz www.fortunetheatre.co.nz