FIESTA is a fiercely original theatrical experience, fusing explosive theatre, live jazz performance and dynamic choreography into a play that sees the sensual beauty and the raw brutality of Ernest Hemingway’s tale of love, loss and decadence.

FIESTA is based on one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. American writer Jake (Gideon Turner), is one of “the lost

generation” post WWI living a bohemian lifestyle in Paris in the 1920s, with fellow expat novelist Robert Cohn (Jye Frasca), until the arrival of the irresistible Lady Brett Ashley (Josie Taylor) throws their lives into turmoil. Jake’s obsession with bullfighting takes them to Pamplona, Spain, to experience the testosterone fuelled world of bullfighting. In the sweltering heat of Spain they meet the beguiling bullfighter Romero (Jack Holden) and a violent spectacle unfolds.

The explosive jazz band, TRIO FAROUCHE, perform live in FIESTA and the kinetic energy between cast and musicians erupts in Spain, with the actors becoming saturated with red wine as it spills from the set - capturing the passionate spirit of Pamplona’s Fiesta, within the intimate space of TRAFALGAR STUDIO 2.

Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American author and journalist. His economical and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the mid-1950s, and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.

Hemingway first visited Pamplona, Spain in 1923, where he became fascinated by bullfighting. A few days after this fiesta ended, on his birthday, he began to write the draft of what would become Fiesta (The Sun Also Rises), finishing eight weeks later.

Read Ernest Hemingway's “Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises” published by Vintage Books.

Gideon Turner trained at The Drama Centre, London. His theatre credits include King Lear at The Donmar Warehouse, London and BAM, New York. Visiting Mr Green at The Trafalgar Studios, The Changeling with ETT, Things Of Dry Hours at The Royal Exchange, Manchester and The Gate, London, Blue On Blue at Theatre 503, Silverland at The Arcola, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Pilate at the RSC, Airsick at The Bush, Richard III, Don Juan and Edward II at The Crucible

Theatre, Sheffield

As well as Modern Man at New End Theatre, Hampstead, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Love's Labour's Lost at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Ghost Stories at St. Mary's, Brighton, The Death Of Cool and Heritage at The Hampstead Theatre, The Pitchfork Disney at The Octagon, Bolton (Winner, Manchester Evening News "Best Newcomer Award").

Gideon's TV credits include Emmerdale, Dark Matters, Doctors, Holby City, Hotel Babylon, Cromwell, Warrior Queen, Starhunter, Bad Girls (Series 1 & 2), Cinderella, Dark Realm, Dalziel & Pascoe, Dangerfield, The Stalker's Apprentice, David, Heartbeat and Casualty. His film credits include Making Ugly, How To Become A Criminal Mastermind, Loop and Poppy's Present.

Jye Frasca (Robert Cohn) has obtained several West End theatre credits, including A-rab in West Side Story (Prince Edward Theatre), Pepper in Mamma Mia (Prince Edward Theatre), Cats (New London Theatre), Anything Goes and Love’s Labour’s Lost (National Theatre), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), The Time Of My Life (Bristol Old Vic), Mary Poppins (world premiere Bristol Hippodrome and West End premiere Prince Edward Theatre),

the London Premier of Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) playing Boq on many occasions, the London Premier of Jersey Boys (Prince Edward Theatre) creating the role of Joe Pesci and playing the role of Frankie Valli on numerous occasions, and Nathan Leopold in the London Premier of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story (Tristan Bates and Charing Cross Theatre) for which he was nominated as Best Actor at The Off West End Theatre Awards.

For BBC Comedy, Jye filmed a new series called Schizo, Samurai, Shitzu playing the lead role of Travolta. Jye has just completed filming on the British feature film Kaufman’s Game in which he stars in the lead role of Stanley. Kaufman’s Game is directed by Helier Bissell-Thomas and is due for release 2013.

Alex Helfrecht (Writer / Director) was born in Oxford to British and American parents. She studied English at UCL and then trained as a theatre professional at Central School of Speech & Drama. She worked in Los Angeles in theatre, film, and commercials before turning to directing in 2006. Credits include 2+2+2 featuring Richard E. Grant at the Kings Head, 1800 Acres at Riverside Studios, critically acclaimed short film Battle for Britain starring Julian Glover,

and a number of commercials and documentaries (See Oiffy.com). Together with her longtime creative partner Jörg Tittel, Alex is also developing the live action feature film, One Man, about T. E. Lawrence aka Lawrence of Arabia during his time in the RAF as well as a feature length screen adaptation of György Dragomán's multiple award winning novel The White King, which is scheduled to shoot between Detroit and Europe in Spring 2014.

Alex is hoping not to go into labour with her second child before the opening night of FIESTA!

Jörg Tittel
Producer

Phillip Munger
Producer

George Warren
Producer

Jessica Ritter-Holland
Associate Producer

Jörg Tittel
Producer

Besides writing and producing critically acclaimed plays and films ("2+2+2" at the Kings Head and "Battle for Britain"), Jörg’s other focus are transmedia projects. With producer Foz Allan (“Robin Hood”, “Wolfblood”, BBC1), he’s currently developing a sci-fi TV series he created.

Since co-founding Oiffy in 2011, Jörg has written, directed and produced a number of commercials and documentary projects. Jörg is a BAFTA member and frequent speaker on cross-platform storytelling, e.g. at Develop, BAFTA, London Book Fair, GDC Europe and Frankfurt Book Fair. He is set to co-direct feature film The White King in Spring 2014.

Oiffy.com

Philip Munger
Producer

Philip devoted his whole life to philosophy and has kept his eye out for anything well-designed and well-written. Predominantly based in Los Angeles and New York City, Philip is now involved in a range of projects across Oiffy's slate, as well as advising on the company's overall strategy.

George Warren
Producer

George is producing innovative new plays in top London venues.

After working in Los Angeles with Summit Entertainment (The Twilight Franchise, The Hurt Locker) he returned to UK and now works as a freelance developer for production companies such as Nutopia (Mankind, The

Story of US) and as in-house producer for Theatre of the Damned, for whom he produced the acclaimed Edinburgh show As Ye Sow (Pleasance Edinburgh, 2012) and the sell out The Horror! The Horror at Wilton's Music Hall in autumn 2012.

Jessica Ritter-Holland
Associate Producer

Jessica began working at Oiffy in Autumn 2012, after graduating in Film Studies and Literature from the University of Kent.

Despite her tender age, she has an extensive international background in theatre/film/TV production, having worked at the award-winning theatre Schauspielhaus Koeln,

Germany, under Artistic Director Karin Beier.

She has also done work for Entertainment One, Los Angeles, Screen International and The Hollywood Reporter, as well as PR firms, distribution labels and international film festivals.

Rachel Noel
Designer

Rachel is a dynamic art director, passionate about creating striking images, new worlds and theatrical experiences.

A meticulous researcher, she takes inspiration from nature, science, and history; and has been art directing and designing sets, installations and experiences in London for

over 4 years.

Her clients include Burberry, Secret Cinema, Battersea Arts Centre and Quintessentially to name a few.

www.rachelnoel.com

Sonja Perreten
Choreography

Sonja trained at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.

She works as a choreographer and collaborative artist on stage and film in dance, physical theatre and aerial movement for companies all over the world.

Recent projects have included the recent film versions of Anna Karenina and Les Miserables, as well as work onstage at the Barbican and the Royal Opera House.

Sonja's first collaboration with Alex was 1800 Acres at Riverside studios.

Sam Snape
Dramaturg/Script Editor

After a brief flirtation with soldiering, hitchhiking, gambling and the Drama Centre, London’s Directors Course, Sam started out as a performer with Common Stock.

He has written for theatre, film, TV and radio. His 25 plays include the award winning Pflegfal which ran for 18 months in Weimar.

His extensive TV credits include All Creatures Great And Small. Last year, 3 Hours, the short film he wrote for director Regan Hall, won two Oscar qualifying festival awards. He has also directed over 40 professional theatre and musical productions and – very, very occasionally – acts.

Christopher Nairne
Lighting Design

Previous productions at Trafalgar Studios include Celebrity Night at Café Red. Other recent credits include: The Card Shark Show (May Fair Hotel Theatre), Happy Birthday, Wanda June (Old Red Lion Theatre), The Busy Body, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me and The Belle’s Stratagem (Southwark Playhouse), The Vocal Orchestra (Udderbelly,

Southbank and Edinburgh), Shallow Slumber (Soho Theatre) and A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson (Out of Joint, UK tour & Arts Theatre). Opera work includes: La Bohème (OperaUpClose; 2011 Olivier Award winner), Albert Herring (Surrey Opera) and The Cunning Little Vixen (Ryedale Festival Opera).

For further details, and a full list of credits:
www.christophernairne.co.uk

Nick Budding
Lighting/Design Assistant

Nick has worked for some of the worlds most well known production companies including Columbia Pictures, Sony Entertainment, Vertigo Films, 4 Music, Pulse films and Channel 4.

With lighting credits for The Bafta Awards and many more, Nick has also worked on live events for Punch Drunk and Secret Cinema, bringing creativity and hard work to every project.

Amy Davidson
Assistant Designer

Amy has a diverse background across fashion design, trend forecasting, immersive theatre and graphic art. She studied Fashion Design and Graphic Art in Australia, and has lived and worked in Paris. Coming to London lead her into the awe-inspiring world of storytelling and theatre, where she now designs site responsive experiences,

which reflect upon her skills of cultural analysis and her forever-seeking nature of asking questions. Thus far she has worked with The National Theatre, The Crafternoon Tea Club and Bestival.

Kev McCurdy
Fight Director

Film Credits Include: John Carter (Walt Disney Pictures), Season of The Witch with Nicolas Cage (Atlas Entertainment)

Television Credits Include: Dr Who Xmas Special (BBC), Camelot (HBO America), Stella (Sky 1), Torchwood (BBC)

Theatre Credits Include: Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors (RSC), Cause Celebre (Old Vic), The Frontline (The Globe), Batman Live (Warner Bros / DC Comics)

Anthony Williams
Set Builder

Anthony is an enthusiastic set builder and installation artist who uses discarded industrial items and reclaimed materials to create a unique and distinctive style. A recent graduate of Central Saint Martins, Anthony has already built sets for London Fashion week, Harper’s Bazaar magazine and Future cinema amongst others.

PRE-FIESTA MENU DEAL:
Present your FIESTA ticket/booking and enjoy a special two-course pre-theatre menu and glass of Margaux for only £19.95.

2-FOR-1 POST-FIESTA COCKTAILS:
Present your FIESTA ticket/booking after the show and get two Hemingway Champagne Cocktails for the price of one.

FINE WINE DEAL:
Premium £30 FIESTA ticket holders are entitled to one complimentary glass of Margaux at Boyds Brasserie Bar & Lounge.

Read more…

Boyd's Brasserie Bar & Lounge

At 8 Northumberland Ave, a short stroll from the theatre, is a causally elegant English brasserie offering fine food and wine at a surprisingly affordable price.

boydsbrasserie.co.uk

More images…

PUBLICITY CONTACT:

Deborah Goodman

Deborah Goodman Publicity

Email: publicity@dgpr.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 8959 9980

Click here to read the Press Release

Click here to download Press Photos