EDINBURGH 2010: THE SUITCASE ROYALE

A dollar fight gone wrong, a classy Sheila with a mind for revenge and a private detective hot on her heels…The Ballad of Backbone Joe tells a twisted tale of the apparent murder of Messy Dimes Dan, owner of the town's abattoir and boxing emporium.

Following their last appearance at the Fringe in 2007 with cult hit Chronicles of a Sleepless Moon, internationally acclaimed Melbourne-based trio The Suitcase Royale return with their new show The Ballad of Backbone Joe. Ably straddling theatre and comedy, the show looks set to be one of the must-sees of this year's fringe.

Set in the roaring carnival days of pre-war Australia, this tin-pan alley opera possesses a jigsaw-puzzle narrative that uses film, visual trickery and bone- crunching physical theatre, presented in the trio's unique Rag 'n' Bone musical style and junkyard aesthetic. Contra bass, banjo, guitar, accordion, drums and the ghostly voice of a red-dressed vixen carry this broken-down truck of a musical down the windy road of revenge.

From the creators of the acclaimed Chronicles of a Sleepless Moon and The Ghosts of Ricketts Hill, (winner of the coveted Golden Gibbo award at the 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival), The Ballad of Backbone Joe is a toe-biting tale which will hold you in the cradle of suspense until the red curtain comes down.

The Suitcase Royale's shows are created using junk left on the curb-side and Pleasance Two the carelessly placed materials of construction sites to create a unique visual landscape. Their work encompasses theatre, music and comedy and they are pleased to present the UK premiere of The Ballad of Backbone Joe following successful runs in Melbourne and Germany.

Pleasance Courtyard

14.35 (15.35) 4 – 29 August (Except 16 Aug)

Previews 4 - 6 Aug - £5

Aug 7-12, 17-19, 23-26 £10 (£9)

Aug 13-15, 20-22, 27-29 £11 (£10)

www.pleasance.co.uk