The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Overview

A powerful new production of Brecht's satirical masterpiece.

The city burns in the heat of civil war and a servant girl sacrifices everything to protect an abandoned child. But when peace is finally restored, the boy's mother comes to claim him. Calling upon the ancient tradition of the Chalk Circle, a comical judge sets about resolving the dispute. But in a culture of corruption and deception, who wins? 

Written by the grand master of storytelling and peopled with vivid and amusing characters, this is one of the greatest plays of the last century.

Directed by Shared Experience Artistic Director Nancy Meckler, this new production includes a remarkable new musical score performed live by a superb ensemble of Shared Experience actors, joined onstage by a chorus drawn from members of the community. The award-winning writer Alistair Beaton wrote the bitingly witty stage play Feelgood and the celebrated TV dramas The Trial of Tony Blair and A Very Social Secretary.

Cast and Creatives

Chorus Auditions

Available During September - November 2009

Audience Reviews

Jamie

I saw the play at Nottinghamshire playhouse and really enjoyed it. Thank you for a wonderful evening! Well done to everyone involved.

Rebecca

I saw the performance at Nottingham Playhouse, and I must say you put on an excellent performance that I thoroughly enjoyed. Well done to everyone involved, and thank you for an entertaining evening!

Jordan Michaels

I thought it was a great show, congratulations to all of the cast. I managed to catch the last show at the Unicorn Theatre which is a beautiful theatre may I add, and the play complemented it so well. Extremely amusing and entertaining well done to the actors.

Mark

Congratulations on "Caucasian Chalk Circle". It was not without some trepidation that I approached the theatre, expecting a lengthy lecture on life from Brecht. So how wonderful to discover that your production is marvelously light-of-touch, thoughtful, imaginative, beautifully performed, terrifically well-received and ultimately very moving and heartening.

It also offered a glimpse of a better world. But one just within grasp if we were to collectively reach for it. Thanks for a splendid evening in the theatre.

Rose

Just the most superb production I've ever seen of Brecht. Everything was absolutely brilliant: the sets, the acting, the songs, the clever chorus - what a wonderfully moving, funny and atmospheric production. I just managed to catch the final show. This play resonances with some of the dark times we live in but gives us hope.