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"Improbable is one of the brilliant faces of British Theatre"
The Observer
An Associate Artist Project in collaboration with ONEOFUS
Beauty and the Beast
What do you get when a freak, a former beauty queen & a maverick director tell the true story of Beauty and the Beast?
Mat Fraser, British disabled actor and writer, Julie Atlas Muz, American art star and a Miss Exotic World/Miss Coney Island, and Phelim McDermott, Artistic Director of Improbable, conspire to make an adult fairytale like no other. A magical sexual journey into real and fabled romance between beastly and beautiful characters, where roles are shared as love is declared. A multi-layered story that will re-kindle your lust for life, and make you think about who loves who, and why they do.
Beauty and the Beast was created as an Improbable Associate Artist Project, a programme where Improbable provide artistic, production and mentoring support for our Associate Artists and artistic collaborators. They stem organically from a genuine creative and administrative partnership with Improbable.
Beauty and the Beast was first presented at Arts Depot in October 2013. It toured the UK, culminating in a sold out run at the Young Vic, before transferring to Abrons Arts Center in New York in 2014 and the Adelaide Festival in 2015.
Directed by Phelim McDermott
Designed by Philip Eddols
Lighting by Colin Grenfell
Sound by Ed Clarke
Costumes by Kevin Pollard
Production Management by Mishi Bekesi
Assistant Directed by Caroline Williams
Photography by Sheila Burnett
Performed by Jonny Dixon, Mat Fraser, Jess Mabel Jones, Julie Atlas Muz
Mat Fraser and Julie Atlas Muz in Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
The company in Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
Mat Fraser in Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
Julie Atlas Muz in Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
The company of Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
The company of Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
The company of Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
The company of Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
Mat Fraser in Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
The company in Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
The company of Beauty and the Beast (Photo by Sheila Burnett)
Current Productions
Future Sounds
A new three-year programme of opera and music theatre work. From the stories we tell to the process used to tell them, join Improbable in creating music and opera that is in - and of - the moment.
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An exploration of life, loss and a single question: Where does true inspiration come from? This new collaboration between Philip Glass and Phelim McDermott marries ten meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom with ten brand new pieces of music.
Through the Door
A series of improvisation workshops for women & non-binary folk, exploring impro in theatre, comedy, storytelling, devising, making and writing.
