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The Caucasian Chalk Circle

A Unicorn production

Terrible is the temptation to do good.

• By Bertolt Brecht
• Translated by Frank McGuinness (this production excludes the prologue)
• Directed by Amy Leach

★★★★ Guardian, Time Out, The Stage, Financial Times

Blood runs through the streets and the Governor's severed head is nailed to the gates of the city. A young servant girl must make a choice: save her own skin or sacrifice everything to rescue an abandoned child...

A time of terror, followed by a time of peace. Order has been restored and the Governor's Wife returns to reclaim the son she left behind. Now the choice is the judge's: who is the real mother of the forgotten child?

A bold and inventive new production of Brecht's moral masterpiece, accompanied by a live and original soundtrack.

Please note: We believe that this show is suitable for everyone aged over 11, but would like to remind you that Brecht’s politically provocative play explores power and conflict. It contains some strong language and sexual references.

Set and Costume designed by Hayley Grindle
Lighting designed by Joshua Carr
Music composed, directed and performed by Dom Coyote
Fight direction by Alison De Burgh 
Puppetry by Rachael Canning
Sound design by Edward Lewis  Performed by Tom Espiner, Caleb Frederick, Kiran Sonia Sawar, Nabil Shaban, Mia Soteriou, Emily Wachter and Chris Wright

FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE SHOW ON STORIFY

Nominated for Best Production in the 2016 Offie Awards

'rare staging reveals the true Brecht...heartstopping scenes' ★★★★

Guardian

'Amy Leach’s vivid production keeps both children and adults enthralled.' ★★★★

Time Out

'a rich and rewarding staging that raises good questions for teenagers about real worth.' ★★★★

Financial Times

'...thoughtful, imaginative and so well paced' ★★★★

The Stage

'a wonderful story...

...they use a gorgeous puppet which has no eyes or mouth only ears and a nose shape...yet there was so much expression IN this puppet, you'd have to be made of wood not to be moved!' 

Review from Lia Sumners, age 12.

'It may have a political undercurrent but at the heart of this production is storytelling...In every sense, this is a piece of epic theatre.'

Curious Mum

Go backstage

Visit our backstage section to see rehearsal photos and find out more about the show.

There is also a 20 minute documentary about why Brecht is still relevant today, featuring Dr Laura Bradley from the University of Edinburgh.

For schools (Suitable for year 7+)

Tickets are £10 with every eleventh ticket free. Contact our Box Office team on 020 7645 0560 or fill out a booking form.

There is a Teacher Resource Pack available to download here. You can also book a pre-show workshop to take place in your school (£120 per class). Contact schools@unicorntheatre.com for more info and to book.

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