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A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer

Run Time:
2 hours 15 minutes
Closing: November 29, 2016

A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer - 2016 West End History , Info & More

National Theatre (Dorfman)
(Waterloo) South Bank London

A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer is an all-singing, all-dancing examination of life with a cancer diagnosis. This brand new musical takes you on a whistle-stop tour through five unconventional stories about cancer, confronting the highs and lows of the scariest word we know.

Bryony Kimmings creates fearless theatre to provoke social change. Her collaboration with Complicite will look behind the poster campaigns and pink ribbons at the reality of cancer: the waiting rooms and chemo suites, the changed bodies, the family pressures and financial worries.

Expect big anthems, shiny costumes, blood, tears and real cancer patients in this rip-roaring, heartbreaking celebration of ordinary life and death, scratching at the battle metaphors that surround cancer to reveal what really lies beneath.

Commissioned and produced by Complicite.


A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer - 2016 - West End Cast

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THE STRANGE UNDOING Opening This Week For Christmas At Royal Exchange
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 29, 2021


Christmas at The Exchange brings a fairytale….of sorts, a Royal Exchange Theatre production The Strange Undoing Of Prudencia Hart, written by David Greig and directed by Debbie Hannan, 4 December – 15 January 2022.

THE STRANGE TALE OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND STAN LAUREL is Coming to Manchester
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 8, 2020


In 1910 the unknown Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel set sail for New York as part of Fred Karno's famous music hall troupe. On the journey, Charlie and Stan shared a cabin and then spent two years together touring North America, with Stan as Charlie's understudy.

I'M A PHOENIX, BITCH Comes to Arts Centre Melbourne
by Stephi Wild - Jul 14, 2019


One of the UK's most significant performance makers, Bryony Kimmings, returns to Melbourne to present the Australian premiere of her solo masterpiece, I'm A Phoenix, Bitch from 11 - 15 September, 2019. The powerful, dark and joyous tour de force about motherhood, heartbreak and finding inner strength combines personal stories with epic film and original pop songs.

Sheffield Theatres Announces Casting for STEEL and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by Stephi Wild - Aug 10, 2018


Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres Robert Hastie today announces the full cast for the world premiere of Chris Bush's Steel, and his major new revival of William Shakespeare's classic A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Shakespeare's Globe Announces Programme For 'Shakespeare And Race' Festival
by Stephi Wild - Jul 23, 2018


Shakespeare's Globe is delighted to announce the programme for 'Shakespeare and Race', a new festival of events opening 11 August. This is the first time in the Globe's twenty-year history that the topic will be explored in depth over a week. Curated to draw attention to and provide a platform for scholars, practitioners and educators of colour in the teaching, study and performance of Shakespeare, this festival will highlight the importance of race to the consideration of Shakespeare not only in his time, but more urgently, in our own. The festival includes a play American Moor by Keith Hamilton Cobb, a workshop entitled Staging Race and Diversity in the Shakespearean Theatre, The Sam Wanamaker Fellowship Lecture is to be given by Professor Kim F. Hall, a pre-show talk for Emilia with Morgan-Lloyd Malcolm, a panel discussion of actors who have played Othello, and an international symposium featuring Kimberle Crenshaw, Professor of Law at Columbia Law School and UCLA, who coined the term 'intersectionality'. The festival starts and finishes with two theatre productions, Voices in the Dark and Hip-hop Shakespeare Unplugged.

Guest Blog: Director Kirsty Housley On A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER
by Guest Blog: Kirsty Housley - Feb 2, 2018


It's 2014 and I'm sitting in Toynbee Hall in east London, watching the first sharing of Bryony Kimmings' A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer. A woman walks nervously across the stage and starts to speak. She is not an actor. Her name is Lara Veitch. She is 25 years old.

Photo Flash: Complicité Stages A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER
by Julie Musbach - Feb 1, 2018


When performance artist Bryony Kimmings was approached by Complicite to create a new show, the invitation came from producer Judith Dimant - who had just received a cancer diagnosis. Never one to shy away from creating art from life, Bryony asked Judith if she wanted to make a production about cancer. What followed was a baptism of fire, and an unexpected journey into the 'Kingdom of the Sick' - following patients, meeting doctors and learning from world experts. What Bryony didn't know is how far into the Kingdom she would fall.

Photo Flash: Complicite presents A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 1, 2018


Complicite will stage a reimagined version of A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, its collaboration with performance artist Bryony Kimmings. Kimmings will lead the company in this reworked production touring the UK before performances in Australia.

Complicite to Stage a Reimagined A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER
by Stephi Wild - Jan 8, 2018


Complicite will stage a reimagined version of A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, its collaboration with performance artist Bryony Kimmings. Kimmings will lead the company in this reworked production touring the UK before performances in Australia.

Judith Dimant and Poppy Keeling Join Emma Rice at Wise Children
by Stephi Wild - Nov 14, 2017


Wise Children today announces that Judith Dimant and Poppy Keeling will join Emma Rice to lead the newly formed company. Keeling will take up her role as Executive Producer in the new year, with Dimant joining as Executive Director later in the Spring as the company launch nationwide. Both join Bristol based Wise Children from Complicit .

The Seymour Centre Unveils 2018 Program
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 8, 2017


The Seymour Centre has unveiled the incredible line up of productions making up the 2018 Program at the venue.

Complicité Theatre Company Announces 2018 Programme
by BWW News Desk - Oct 5, 2017


Complicite today announces programming for 2018 in January the company will stage a reimagined version of A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, its collaboration with performance artist Bryony Kimmings. Kimmings will lead the company in this reworked production performing across the UK before a tour to Australia.

Rhys Ifans to Lead A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Old Vic; Full Cast Announced
by BWW News Desk - Sep 28, 2017


Matthew Warchus directs Charles Dickens' timeless classic A Christmas Carol in a joyous new adaptation by Jack Thorne, starring Rhys Ifans as Ebenezer Scrooge, opening at The Old Vic on 29 November with previews from 20 November.

Simon McBurney's THE ENCOUNTER to Bring the Amazon to the West Coast This Spring
by BWW News Desk - Mar 28, 2017


The Encounter - among the most compelling theatrical experiences ever staged on Broadway and in London - will make its West Coast debut in April at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.

National Theatre's MY COUNTRY Coming to HOME This Spring
by BWW News Desk - Mar 28, 2017


The National Theatre has collaborated with eight UK arts organisations to create a new play inspired by the recent EU Referendum, presented on stage at HOME as part of a UK tour following its current run at the NT's Dorfman Theatre in London.

Shakespeare's Globe Announces Casting for ROMEO AND JULIET and TWELFTH NIGHT
by BWW News Desk - Feb 2, 2017


Shakespeare's Globe is delighted to announce casting for Romeo and Juliet directed by Daniel Kramer, and Twelfth Night directed by Emma Rice.

Northern Broadsides and New Vic Theatre to Stage Premiere of CYRANO
by BWW News Desk - Nov 21, 2016


Northern Broadsides are set to start off their 25th anniversary year by joining forces with the award-winning New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, to stage Cyrano, a new adaptation by award-winning playwright Deborah McAndrew (An August Bank Holiday Lark) of Edmond Rostand's classic romantic comedy Cyrano de Bergerac.

BWW Review: A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER, National Theatre, 19 October 2016
by Marianka Swain - Oct 20, 2016


How do you make a musical about cancer? This latest work from Bryony Kimmings isn't just theatre, but metatheatre. Her voiceovers and the emails published in the programme detail the at times highly personal development process, and a gut punch of a last 15 minutes strip away the comfort of fictional distance. It could be self-indulgent; instead, it becomes an effective method for making us confront that other, bigger question: how do we talk about, prepare for and deal with illness?

AMADEUS Leads October's Top 10 New London Shows
by Marianka Swain - Oct 1, 2016


London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From Amadeus and a starry Stoppard revival to exciting new musicals, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…

A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER to Play HOME Manchester This September
by BWW News Desk - Sep 20, 2016


A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, an all-singing, all-dancing examination of living with a cancer diagnosis, is the first show in HOME's autumn 2016 theatre season, between Tue 20 - Sat 24 September 2016.

A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER to Play HOME Manchester This September
by BWW News Desk - Aug 22, 2016


A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, an all-singing, all-dancing examination of living with a cancer diagnosis, is the first show in HOME's autumn 2016 theatre season, between Tue 20 - Sat 24 September 2016.

Full Cast Announced for New Musical A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER
by Tyler Peterson - Jun 22, 2016


Full cast is today announced for the world premiere of new musical A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer with book by Bryony Kimmings and Brian Lobel, music by Tom Parkinson and lyrics by Bryony Kimmings.  Francesca Mills, Max Runham and Lottie Vallis complete the company and join the previously announced Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Amy Booth-Steel, Hal Fowler, Amanda Hadingue, Akiya Henry, Golda Rosheuvel, Rose Shalloo, Gareth Snook and Gary Wood.

Exeter Northcott Theatre Announces New Season
by Marianka Swain - Jun 9, 2016


Exeter Northcott Theatre is delighted to announce its exciting autumn 2016 season. This season the theatre has cut its £2 transaction booking fee. Instead, customers who want their tickets posted will be asked to pay a small charge to cover postage costs. 

Casting Announced for Bryony Kimmings' A PACIFIST'S GUIDE TO THE WAR ON CANCER
by Marianka Swain - Jun 2, 2016


A casting update is announced today for the world premiere of new musical A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer with book by Bryony Kimmings and Brian Lobel, music by Tom Parkinson and lyrics by Bryony Kimmings. Kimmings directs a cast including Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Amy Booth-Steel, Hal Fowler, Amanda Hadingue, Akiya Henry, Golda Rosheuvel, Rose Shalloo, Gareth Snook and Gary Wood.

Filter Theatre's TWELFTH NIGHT Comes to HOME Manchester This May
by BWW News Desk - May 11, 2016


Fresh from tours of India and a run in New York, Filter Theatre's 90-minute take on the Bard's joyous comedy TWELFTH NIGHT is a feast for the eyes and ears. This riotous and energetic interpretation was originally commissioned by Michael Boyd, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and will run Wed 11 - Sat 14 May 2016 at HOME in Manchester.

A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer History

Other Productions of A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer

2016   West End West End Production
West End

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