Interview: Ali Brice of GRAEME OF THRONES at Overture Center

Wikipedia lists Game of Thrones as follows, "Game of Thrones is an American fantasy, drama television series created by DAVID BENIOFF and D.B. Weiss. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice George R.R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is A Game of Thrones." The site goes on further to inform the reader, "Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, international fan base."

This comes as no surprise the millions of fans across the globe. After 6 highly successful seasons, the fans are chomping at the bit for Season 7. Until then we have GRAEME of THRONES!! According to the official website, "Writer and BAFTA winner Jon Brittain said: "Graeme of Thrones is a parody/farce/show-within-a-show/loving-homage. It's nice to be in a room where being an anally retentive fanboy is actually a good thing! The team are having a lovely time geeking out and discussing how ridiculous Ser Jorah and Littlefinger's voices are, how Daenerys really should have double checked there was a no-nudity clause in her contract, and how Jon Snow really is incredibly boring (but so pretty!)."

Created by a team of some of the UK's top comedy writers, Graeme of Thrones is a wacky and wicked parody on the international phenomenon that is Game of Thrones.

See it before the inevitable lawsuit!

And see it you can! Overture Center is pleased to announced ticket sales for comedic parody Graeme of Thrones, making its Capitol Theater debut on Friday, March 3 at 8 p.m. with a second performance on Saturday, March 4 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and are on sale now:

Online: overture.org

In a recent interview with the lead, Ali Brice, Graeme himself,we delve into a deeper understanding of the man the myth, the legend.

How did you get involved in theater?

I have been doing standup comedy since 2009 and have been going to the Edinburgh Fringe every year since 2010. The last 3 years I have performed shows that I have written that center around my character, Eric Meat. Through doing comedy I have made a lot of friends and one of these friends, Mark Davison (who played Paul in the first London run of the show) recommended me to the director of Graeme of Thrones.

Then I got the job!

What was challenging about bringing this script to life?

The fact there are so many characters! We recreate most of the characters from seasons 1 and 2 and there are only 3 of us in the cast!

Why did you want get involved in this production?

I loved the script, the people involved and the chance to travel around the world and perform was too much to turn it down. This show has allowed me to quit my normal job and become a full-time actor. I am living my dream!

What do you love about this character?

Graeme is a sweet, misguided fool who loves Game of Thrones and thinks he can recreate it on stage with the same production values as the HBO series - although he doesn't have any money! That's where a lot of the humor of the show comes from. Beyond Graeme, I get to play a whole host of characters including Jon Snow and Ned Stark - which is a lot of fun.

If you could play any other Character in this show which one would it be?

I'd like to play Khal Drogo.

Who is the funniest person in the cast in real life?

It's definitely me. Although, don't tell Libby or Michael that I said that!

Having said that, the whole Graeme of Thrones tour team - Libby, Michael, Karl and Jayne make me laugh a lot. Being on tour can get a little repetitive and tiring, so it's nice to have a good gang that like a laugh.

How long have you been on tour?

I have been doing the show since October 2015 - with breaks in between tours. It's taken me all over the world - America, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and all over the UK.

Where are, you going next?

After Madison, we go home for 2 weeks and then tour the East Coast of America

There are ONLY two opportunities to see this groundbreaking performance, and ONLY one place offering those opportunities!!

Overture Center is pleased to announced ticket sales for comedic parody Graeme of Thrones, making its Capitol Theater debut on Friday, March 3 at 8 p.m. with a second performance on Saturday, March 4 at 8 p.m.

Created by the UK's top comedy writers including Jon Brittain, AnDrew Doyle ("Britain's hottest young comedian" - GQ Magazine), and Dan Evans ("Original and inventive" - The Times). Graeme of Thrones is an original and un-authorized parody on the international phenomenon that is HBO's Game of Thrones.

Original UK cast members Ali Brice (Graeme) and Libby Northedge (Bryony) are joined by Canadian-born, Michael Condron (Paul), who appeared in Seasons 5 and 6 of Game of Thrones as Bowen Marsh.

Show description

In this critically-acclaimed theatrical journey through the Seven Kingdoms, direct from sold out shows in London's West End, avid 'Thrones' fan Graeme wants to recreate his favorite fantasy saga on stage - aided and abetted by his best friend Paul and the girl he used to fancy at school - Bryony.

He doesn't quite have the same budget as the TV show, or as many cast members, or the performance skill required, but he's sure George R.R. Martin would approve - and that's what matters. But when news reaches them that an influential theatrical producer is in the building, Graeme decides that this could be his big break - as long as nothing goes wrong...

Cast

Ali Brice (Graeme) is a character comedian and actor. Performing since 2009, Brice creates vividly coloured worlds, full of very silly and larger-than-life characters. In 2014 Brice took Eric Meat Wants to Go Shopping to the Edinburgh Fringe to critical acclaim. He is a member of the London-based alternative comedy collective, Weirdos. Ali was in the original GRAEME OF THRONES cast in London's West End and has since gone on to tour the UK and Australia with the show.

Libby Northedge (Bryony) has worked as both a performer and director with notable companies including Punchdrunk, NIE, BBC, Sky Arts. Libby is one half of clown and character sketch duo, Twisted Loaf. In 2013 they won the prestigious Funny Women Award and have since had two smash hit Edinburgh Festival shows, that have both transferred to the West End. They wrote and starred in their own short film for Sky and are currently in development for a TV series. Libby is a regular improviser, having spent the summer of 2012 performing with IO and Second City in Chicago. Libby was in the original cast of GRAEME OF THRONES in London's West End and has toured with the show across the UK and Australia.

Michael Condron (Paul) performs regularly at Belfast Lyric Theatre and his credits include: 39 Steps, Smiley, Here Comes the Night, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, John Bull's Other Island, The Miser by Molière adapted by David Johnston. Michael performed with the Boat Factory, off Broadway, Kings Head Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe Festival with other local and regional tours. He has worked with many other venues and touring companies in the UK and Ireland, including Mirandolina (Manchester Royal Exchange), Mojo Mickybo (Lyric Hammersmith), Borderland (7:84 Theatre Co), Lally the Scut (Theatre Co), Oh What a Lovely War, Threepenny Opera, Blue Remembered Hills, The Government Inspector (Bruiser Theatre Co).

Tickets start at $35 and are on sale now:

· In person at the Overture Center Ticket Office (201 State Street)

·Online overture.org

·By phone at 608.258.4141

·Groups of ten or more eligible for discounts, email groups@overture.org or call 608.258.4159

Graeme of Thrones is presented by Overture Center as part of the Theatrical Series.

Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, ten resident companies, and hundreds of local artists engage nearly half a million people in educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture.org

Starvox Entertainment, founded in 2003 by Corey Ross, was ranked on Profit Magazine's list of Canada's top growth companies in 2013, 2014 and 2015-the only live entertainment company ever to be graded. In 2013, Mr. Ross was a producer on the Canadian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS and in 2014 remounted Evil Dead - The Musical to record-breaking sales in Canada and the United States. Starvox has toured the west-end hit show Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience since 2012 which continues to break records in Canada and the U.S. Starvox recently produced Trey Parker's Cannibal! The Musical and Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience in Toronto.

 

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