Cooking With Elvis

Bruiser's autumn 2011 tour saw Lee Hall's 'Cooking With Elvis'. The show opened in the Belfast Waterfront Studio in September and then toured round the North and South of Ireland and over to Scotland for our third visit to the Wigtown Book Festival and the amazing Swallow Theatre.

The four-strong cast were Stephen Beggs, Shaun Blaney, Jo Donnelly and Nuala McGowan. We had worked with Jo before on rehearsed readings but it was great to have her in one of our full shows. After 10 years in the Bruiser office, Company Manager Stephen Beggs took to the stage as a fully fledged Bruiser cast member for the first time. We were also delighted that Nuala McGowan was back with us, having taken part in our 2008 Level 2 Summer School. Fresh from working on Replay's 'The School Underneath', it was fantastic to have Shaun Blaney with us for the first time.

Director Lisa May was joined on the production by Bruiser's fantastic Stage Management team, Rory Casey and Patrick Freeman, as well as our long-time collaborators Sean Paul O'Rawe on Lighting Design. and Diana Ennis on Set & Costume Design. Musical Direction was by Mark Dougherty. Our Production Intern on the show was Sophie Thompson.

Critics Reviews

  "...Stephen Beggs' unsettlingly credible portrayal of a 
   man, whose permanent vegetative state masks the fact that, 
   in his own mind, he was - and still is - the King...Beggs 
   steals the show, escaping his wheelchair to deliver some 
   nifty musical numbers, punctuated by chilling reminders of 
   the unsavoury inner life of the king of Rock'n'Roll."
   Jane Coyle review in 'The Stage'

  "It was the best 12.50 I have ever spent - I haven't laughed 
   so much in years!" - Audience Feedback Form after Cork show.
   Audience Feedback Form after Cork show

  "...[Bruiser's production of] Cooking with Elvis is so very 
   good...Lisa May directs with a hand so firm she could have 
   baked it in vinegar...It's like looking at the workings of a 
   pocket-watch, but a pocket-watch that is singing doo-wop and 
   shifting furniture...They have the beauty and simplicity of 
   giant origami, a perfect illustration of Bruiser's ethos...
   To end on an awful pun of my own, this production was 
   performed with some truly amazing grace."
   John Higgins review on 'Culture Northern Ireland website'

  "Dear Bruiser people, that was the best show I've seen in years. 
   I laughed so much my throat hurt. Properly good. Thank you." 
   Facebook posting after Antrim show.

  "...family saga is a fine piece of black humour...to the credit 
   of director Lisa May who navigates the surreal tone of the piece 
   with a pretty sure touch...at some of the more outrageous moments 
   it looked like a few members of the audience were going to have 
   to be carted out in hysterics. Not a bad night's work then."
   Liam Heylin review in the Cork 'Evening Echo'

  "Excellent. Enjoyed thoroughly.  Acting was top notch and engaging. 
   Performances full of colour. Good laughs. Dark and disturbed with 
   a smile. Keep up the good work."
   Email to Bruiser after Scotland show.