Proto-type Theater's New Show THE AUDIT Opens 27 Feb, Tour to Follow

The new show from acclaimed Proto-type Theater has its world premier at Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University in Lancaster on 27 February at 8pm.

The Audit (or Iceland, a modern myth) is written and directed by Andrew Westerside and devised and performed by Rachel Baynton and Gillian Lees. It is Proto-type's second theatrical work examining contemporary politics. A Machine they're Secretly Building, a 'smartly intelligent hour-long whizz through the world of surveillance' (Lyn Gardner, The Guardian) thrilled audiences and critics alike on tour and was selected for The British Council Showcase at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe. THE AUDIT reunites the team with digital design from Adam York Gregory ('so seamlessly incorporated into the action it's almost another performer' Exeunt) and original music and sound design by Paul J Rogers.

THE AUDIT (or Iceland, a modern myth) looks at the human cost of the corporate and personal greed that consumes countries - and tells how one nation raised their voices in protest and railed against the currents. How can a small island nation survive when it is going it alone with economic relationships?

2018 marks the tenth anniversary of the worst worldwide financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s and THE AUDIT asks if we really weathered the storm? Surrounded by greed and with international finance crashing, we follow a citizen, a country, and gods old and new, as they confront economic crisis and powerlessness. THE AUDIT uses original text, performance, film, animation and specially composed music to inform, entertain and challenge.

In a world where the driving force behind nearly every decision that affects our daily lives is profit THE AUDIT is about finding strength, overcoming a world designed to keep us docile, and seeks to show that collective power can move a mountain - even if only a little.

Rachel said 'We conceived The Audit as a companion piece to A Machine, throughout our investigations for that show we kept coming back to the unavoidable truth that money is behind everything.'

Gillian added 'In researching the show, we spoke to academic economics experts as well as with special interest and community groups across the country to share experiences and discuss the profit motive that is behind the decisions and systems that govern our daily lives.'

Proto-type are a company of multi-disciplinary artists led by Rachel Baynton, Gillian Lees, and Andrew Westerside. They have been making work and supporting young artists in the US, the Netherlands, Russia, China, Armenia, France, Zimbabwe and the UK since 1997.

Following the Lancaster premier the Audit has dates at The Lowry, Salford, ARC Stockton on Tees, artdepot London, Leeds Hub, Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, Oxford Playhouse, Norwich Arts Centre and Ipswich Pulse Festival.

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