THE JANITOR
'The curtain is down. The dust has settled. All is quiet, which suits the janitor just fine. He's alone...'
NEON PANDA's debut The Janitor, is a clown and movement piece full of comedy and reminiscence, that explores loneliness through unexpected companionship. With no dialogue, the story is simply told through physicality and movement. It tells the story of a janitor, closing the theatre long after the audience have left. With nothing but a broom and the clothes on his back, his world is transformed into something else entirely.
The Janitor debuted at The Monkey House in association with Fourth Monkey, at Camden Fringe 2017.
PRAISE FOR THE JANITOR
"Physical theatre: skilful, funny, tender
* * * * *
This memorable and original production comes as a breath of fresh air from a young company displaying sound artistic judgment and a great deal of talent.
The Janitor, presented by Camden Fringe newcomers Neon Panda, is physical theatre at its very best: richly inventive, visually compelling and fluidly executed. Without spoken dialogue it combines clown, mime and dance elements that are engaging, distinctive and entirely coherent across the scope of the piece. It features a highly effective musical soundtrack, with original score written for the production, and makes imaginative use of props and hand-held lamps.
The show is created and performed by Sherwood Alexander and Ruth Newbery-Payton. Both have trained with Fourth Monkey Theatre Company, which is known for its strengths in physical theatre. The two have remarkable on-stage chemistry and give outstanding, charismatic performances, high in energy but never other than controlled and well placed.
Alexander, as the eponymous janitor, presents a highly sympathetic character, weary and alone with his memories in his beloved theatre after the show - until the familiar routine is mysteriously disrupted. He deploys clown technique, skilfully and gently, to sweep us away on his roller coaster of crystal clear responses – suspicion, fear, astonishment, delight, regret. Newbery-Payton sparkles as the girl who makes an unexpected appearance. She has a physical strength, speed and agility which give the character a presence that's mischievous, exuberant - and suddenly fragile. Together the two are immensely watchable.
A beautiful piece of theatre that's playful, funny, tender and sorrowful, The Janitor is short, sweet and so deliciously rich that at 50 minutes running time we're aware we've already had a feast.
While it's no surprise that fringe theatre often courts its audiences with the seductive, the sinister or the downright weird, it's truly refreshing to come across work that has no need for any of that but instead asserts itself with a kind of clear eyed innocence that's deceptively powerful. Highly recommended."
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by May Davey - Remote Goat
STILLS
Pictures by Elliot Neal Photographic
RADIO WAVES
Original score from The Janitor
Written by Sherwood Alexander - Arranged and Produced by Nathan Jarvis
TIN CANS
@neonpandapanda
@sherwoodhere
@ruthinksalot
ABOUT
Founded over a pint at The Duke's Head in Highgate, Ruth Newbery-Payton and Sherwood Alexander decided it was high-time they started doing something and created uplifting work in a world where things always seem to need a point.
No dialogue, no fancy props, and no real sense of direction, NEON PANDA was created...
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