Contact: Rebecca Targett [email protected] 07701021424[Type here] This marketing pack has been designed to support the marketing activities of ´The ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha’ by Little Soldier productions. This pack contains the following sections: About the company Page 2 About the production Page 2 Brochure copy Page 3 Credits Page 4 Audiences Page 6 Selling the show Page 6 Press Page 9 Press quotes Page 10 Template press release Page 11 Online marketing Page 13 Box office information Page 14 Template mail out Page 16 Tour schedule Page 17 Artistic team Page 18 This tour is presented by house 1 Contact: Rebecca Targett [email protected] 07701021424[Type here] About the company Straight-up funniest, most charming theatre company I’ve come across in an age. Andrew Haydon, Views from the Gods Little Soldier was founded in 2010 to promote innovative cross-cultural artistic collaborations. We use physical comedy, devising techniques and live music to produce funny yet touching shows, exploiting our Spanish backgrounds and English setting to create an individual take on new writing and classic texts. The company is led by actresses Patricia Rodríguez and Mercè Ribot, supported by producer Bridget Floyer. Little Soldier has toured extensively in the UK and internationally in Warsaw, Madrid and New York. Their work has been critically acclaimed by public and press, including The Stage, Time Out and Exeunt. Previous show ‘You and Me’ was awarded an Argus Angel at the Brighton Fringe 2014 and ‘The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha’ received the Stage Award for Acting Excellence at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014. About the production An unpretentious, inventive and smartly silly delight. An award winning tongue-in-cheek treatment of Cervantes novel. Donald Hutera, Exeunt Magazine With a three-quarters Spanish, three-quarters female and a token English Bloke, Little Soldier sets of to re-enact one of the most influential works of world literature. Their mammoth task would be easier if any of the following were true: they’d read the book, had enough actors or heeded the warnings of Terry Gilliam. This critically acclaimed production continues to have the company’s trademarks: combination of languages, live music by the hand of Spanish classic guitarist Maria Camahort and physical comedy. In this occasion, they present a truly engaging and hilarious show that has been charming audiences across the UK and abroad. The Stage Award for Acting Excellence 2014 Edinburgh Festival Picked as one of the best shows of 2014 (The Stage) Featured in Lyn Gardner ‘Edinburgh festival 2014: the shows you can’t live without’ 2 Contact: Rebecca Targett [email protected] 07701021424[Type here] Brochure copy Company Little Soldier Productions Show title The Ingenious gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha Tag line An award winning hilarious take on Cervantes’ timeless novel Long copy (150 words) Two feisty senoritas and a downtrodden Englishman embark on a journey through Spain, taking on one of the most accomplished works of fiction ever written; Don Quixote. Accompanied only by an otherworldly guitarist whose presence there makes no sense whatsoever, they will lead you to joy, pain and ultimate wisdom. A madcap rendition concluding with a common sentiment: “These guys did not read the book”. Award-winning company, Little Soldier presents a hilariously inventive adventure of immense proportions, to be taken with a pinch of salt and a handlebar moustache. The Stage Award for Acting Excellence 2014 Edinburgh Festival Medium copy (100 words) Two feisty senoritas and a downtrodden Englishman embark on a journey through Spain, taking on one of the most accomplished works of fiction ever written; Don Quixote. Accompanied only by an otherworldly guitarist whose presence there makes no sense whatsoever, they will lead you to joy, pain and ultimate wisdom. A madcap rendition concluding with a common sentiment: “These guys did not read the book”. Award-winning company, Little Soldier presents a hilariously inventive adventure of immense proportions, to be taken with a pinch of salt and a handlebar moustache. The Stage Award for Acting Excellence 2014 Edinburgh Festival Short copy (50 words) Two feisty señoritas and a downtrodden Englishman take on Don Quixote’s quest accompanied only by an otherworldly guitarist. A madcap rendition concluding with a common sentiment: “These guys didn't read the book”. The Stage Award for Acting Excellence 2014 Edinburgh Festival 3 Contact: Rebecca Targett [email protected] 07701021424[Type here] Age suitability 14+ (includes mild nudity and occasional strong language) Running time Show length: 80 minutes (plus optional interval). Latecomers admitted Workshops Accompanying workshops in performance and devising or language based, also available. Credits Creative Team Dramaturgy by Tiffany Wood Live Music by Maria Camahort Directed by Ian Nicholson Set Designer: Sophia Simensky R&D Collaborators Aitor Basauri, Simon Lighting Designer: Seth Rook Williams Day and Dennis Herdman Studio Shots: Alex Brenner, Mark Dawson Developed and performed by Stephen Production Shots: Gustaf Nilsson Harper, Patricia Rodríguez and Mercè Ribot. Trailer: Caitlin Quinn Stroud Produced in association with Jacksons Lane. Funding logos attached, or please use alternative text below Produced using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Supported by the Embassy of Spain, Cervantes Institute & Hispania London. Tour presented by house. 4 Contact: Rebecca Targett [email protected] 07701021424[Type here] Audiences Target audience Audiences interested in classic text, especially Don Quixote New and contemporary theatre work attendees, particularly comic/physical/devised theatre with international cast members– past attendees of Peepolykus, The Plasticine Men, Told by an Idiot, Complicite, Gonzo Moose, Theatre ad Infinitum, Spymonkey and Snuff Box Theatre. The Spanish communities and lovers of Classical Spanish music. Theatre and Performing Arts students from GCSE to BTEC performing arts house has placed the show within their ‘A Night Out’ audience development strand. For more traditional ‘dinner and a show’ audiences, shows might be of classic texts or recognisable titles, and offer more traditional production values (sets, costumes etc) or explore more universal themes. Audiences in the A Night Out strand: Aligning the target audiences with the 2014 Audience Spectrum from the Audience Agency, we identified the following segments: Commuterland Culturebuffs (higher engaged): Affluent suburban and greenbelt consumers of culture as part of their social lives, particularly prevalent in the South East region. Interested in high-quality artistic experiences and have broad creative tastes Dormitory Dependables (medium engaged): Regular but not frequent attenders living in city suburbs and small towns, with more traditional tastes but could be persuaded to take risks Home & Heritage (medium engaged): Conservative and mature households who have a love of the traditional. This group is suspicious of advertising, with word of mouth being preferred Up Our Street (lower engaged): Reasonably comfortably off households, occasional audiences for popular arts & entertainment, museums and heritage sites. Print newspapers are widely read, and this group prefer events with community ties. Example marketing tactics: Local press and radio coverage with cast to introduce the production through traditional media channels Playing theatre trailers ahead of any NT Live showings in the venue Poster advertising to community areas such as sports centres and amateur dramatics groups 5 Contact: Rebecca Targett [email protected] 07701021424[Type here] Engaging audiences We will regularly update our social media content, running competitions and a journal following the company on tour – aimed at younger audiences and festival/fringe goers. Use Spanish institutions distribution channels (emailing lists and web advertisements) to reach Spanish communities and enthusiasts of the Iberian culture and music. We will target local and regional press with a PR campaign which will have a special focus on previews. Offering workshops to local schools and drama societies. Running ticket offers through competitions on local media in conjunction with the venue. Offering Q&A on Little Soldier’s creative process, style and language use. Selling the show USP A female led, fresh, dynamic and irreverent take on the Cervantes classic. A winning combination of stage technique and audience inclusion. Content of the show Two Spaniards and an Englishman re-enact some of the episodes of Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote, with the company’s characteristic wit, humor, and playfully imaginative outlook. Expect clown, physical comedy, puppetry and Spanish Classic guitar. This production also has diversity of languages. The company is committed to the production of innovative and vibrant professional theatre that entertains and engages the audience throughout. Selling points Contributes to the celebration of the multicultural artistic scene. Funny and engaging, with direct address and some level of audience interaction Fast paced, quick witted and universally comic 6 Contact: Rebecca Targett [email protected] 07701021424[Type here] Award-wining Spanish Classical guitarist featured in the show Broad audience