TOM, Circa69, Stratford Circus and The Island to Present THE NEW TEN COMMANDMENTS at Brighton Fringe 2014, May 4-June 1

From 4 May to 1 June 2014, TOM, Circa69, Stratford Circus and The Island will present THE NEW TEN COMMANDMENTS as part of Brighton Fringe 2014. The show is a deeply satirical piece persuading the audience/contributors to re-imagine traditions of morality as they know them.

Market Research consultant Simon Wilkinson and his intern Liyuwerk have been commissioned by LDD Research Group to run focus groups with members of the public to re-think, re-brand and re-launch the Ten Commandments for the 21st Century. It's approximately 3500 years since Charlton Heston came down from the mount carrying the iconic stone tablets carved with the original Ten Commandments; 3500 is a very long time, the world has changed and the Ten Commandments now represent a moral dictate relevant to a time which no longer exists; they need updating.

Ten members of the public at a time are asked to listen to real life stories of moral ambiguity, to debate the issues and come up with ten new commandments more suitable to the times in which we live. Discussing the morality of love, sexuality, death, society, belief, the environment and other facets of human life on planet Earth, this satirical piece explores 21st century ethical uncertainties and moral ambiguities toward unearthing a new morality. The 90-minute focus group session is not the whole story however. Who are the mysterious clients, the LDD Research Group? And what is their real motivation?

Simon Wilkinson and Liyuwerk Sheway have been touring the country with this show since last year, presenting their most interesting results on their webpage including things like #6 "Do what you want with the people who want to do it with you", #5"Protect the environment by smashing unethical investments" and #8 "Question everything you believe". Every show is different, and has completely different outcomes, although there is a big twist at the end, that everyone can experience...

Creator Simon Wilkinson says of the shows so far: "We've done this show 12 times so far, and the audiences suggestions have been amazing. In this type of interactive show, we find the audiences are often far more interesting than we are. It's been fascinating to find out people's views, and not just the outspoken ones! All kinds of people come and take part in the discussion.

"The more we talk to people, the more we're releasing how much 'morality' can mean, and how personal it is. Interestingly, the moral stances we've heard from our audiences are generally way off the accepted morality our media assumes."

Simon Wilkinson is originally from Worthing and now lives and works in Brighton, he has won awards for his film and music work including Best Documentary 'Picture This Film Festival' (2009), Koestler Award - Best Feature Film (2008), Triangle Award for 'Gypsy' (2007). He is the founder of Circa69 and is currently working on several interactive and site specific productions, including The Sound of The Wind in the Trees and Beyond The Bright Black Edge of Nowhere- a site responsive B-movie experience that will evolve and grow as the tour progresses.

The New Ten Commandments is a co-production of circa69, Stratford Circus and The Island, funded by Arts Council England, and written / directed by Simon Wilkinson and Liyuwerk Sheway.

DETAILS:

The New Ten Commandments

Circa69, Stratford Circus and The Island

Brighton Fringe Festival

Dates & Times:

Sunday 4th May - 2:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm & 9:00pm.

Friday 9th May - 7:00pm & 9:00pm.

Saturday 10th May - 2:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm & 9:00pm.

Sunday 11th May - 2:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm & 9:00pm.

Monday 12th May - 7:00pm & 9:00pm.

Tuesday 13th May - 7:00pm & 9:00pm.

Friday 30th May - 2:00pm, 5:00pm & 7:00pm.

Saturday 31st May - 2:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm

Sunday 1st June - 2:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm & 9:00pm.

Tickets: £8.00 [£6.00]. Tickets, On The Door: £9.00 [£7.00].

Age: Recommended 14+.

TOM - The Old Market | www.theoldmarket.com