 Trading Faces performances are highly visual, fast and physical. The company devises shows through improvisation within a strong, accessible narrative structure. Half masks and full masks combine to drive the action and to control the pace of the show. Classic narratives are often given a complete make-over to create a story that has relevance to an audience today. Although the subject matter of performances is often serious, comedy is at the heart of the company’s work, making each show an emotional roller coaster – balancing commedic anarchy with bitter twists of tragedy.
 Toured September 25th –November 10th 2007
Enter the strange world of Alice and meet some extraordinary creatures. Enjoy the fun and nonsense of Lewis Carroll’s classic adventures brought to life with masks, puppets and very silly poetry. The show is full of visual surprises and physical transformations – get ready to expect the unexpected! ‘Alice’ is a family show for adults and children (aged 5+). Everyone needs a little Tweedledum and Tweedledee in their lives!
Trading Faces has been devising shows since 1987, delighting audiences of all ages at large and small venues with their dynamic characters and superb timing, stunning set and costume design, independent lighting and original music. This performance built on the recent success of The Little Prince created by Trading Faces for Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company. ‘Alice’ has the Trading Faces trademark style of highly visual, fast and physical action - a contemporary treatment of a familiar story which will make you grin like a Cheshire cat!
Alice opened at Belmont Arts Centre Shrewsbury on Saturday 22nd September 2007.
"ALICE was wonderful in every way! The show was clever, moving, funny, skill fully put together, beautiful to look at and performed with an energy that put the audience in the palms of the performers' hands. Tweedledum and Tweedledee were terrifically funny and full of pathos and the tea party was 10 minutes of mad delight."
Ali Boag Director Stahl Theatre
"Audience feedback was excellent – there was a real buzz in the theatre afterwards."
Alison Duncombe Theatre Administrator
Terry O'Toole Theatre Lincoln
"It was fantastic - magical, in fact. The performance went down a storm and it was great to see so many children present.."
Juanita Sangha Promoter Walsall
 
Click here for the poster!
The Cheshire Cat
Past shows include Creaking Shadows (click for details), a haunting thriller inspired by the stories of Edgar Allan Poe; Double Trouble, an outdoor summer spectacular using traditional commedia dell 'arte masks and Jungle Book a primary schools tour inspired by Ruyard Kiplings books (co-productions with Forest Forge Theatre Company); The Little Prince (a co-production with Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company), inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupery's classic book; The Wife of Bath, a bawdy ‘medieval’ romp inspired by Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and The Man Who Woke up in the Dark, a comic drama about the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci.
“Beautiful, surreal and so entertaining. You won’t be disappointed” The Oxford Times
“Prepare to be deliciously spooked by the country’s leading mask theatre company” The Oxford Mail
“Trading Faces are a truly talented company who were all absolutely magnificent." Jersey Evening Post |
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“Directors Tony Davies and Thomasina Carlyle created a production that was brimful of theatrical invention...It is encouraging that live theatre still has the power to influence, entertain and make an audience think” Newbury Weekly News
“A rich blend of masks, physical theatre and comedy-played with sizzling energy” The Bath Chronicle
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| “Top class acting and superb timing” Romford Recorder
“This company’s special use of masks and physical theatre creates vibrant visual images and strong theatre. Stirring stuff.” The Berwick Advertiser
“What Trading Faces are providing is not just theatre for the people, but theatre at its best” Oxford Times |
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“It’s bawdy, it’s funny, it’s mask theatre at its best" Total Theatre Magazine
“The audience shrieked with delight” The Kentish Gazette
“There are nuggets of gold in this company’s work” The Stage
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