The Ministry of Fear, Exeter Northcott, Friday 26th February to Saturday 6th March

This spring, Theatre Alibi teams up with Exeter Northcott and Oxford Playhouse to bring Graham Greene’s thriller The Ministry of Fear to the stage for the first time.

Running from Friday 26 February to Saturday 6 March, this fast-paced new production has a powerful whiff of Hitchcock and echoes of film noir classic The Third Man.

In London during World War II, Arthur Rowe innocently wins a cake at a garden fête. Little does he know it contains something intended for someone else that draws him into a dark world of espionage and intrigue.

Theatre Alibi have turned this most dramatic of stories into a powerful piece of theatre with a strong cast, an atmospheric live score for double bass and sax and a stunning set and lighting inspired by the bombed-out wreckage of London during the Blitz.

Daniel Jamieson, who has adapted Greene’s novel for Theatre Alibi, believes The Ministry of Fear is a sophisticated thriller that blurs the boundary between high art and popular entertainment:

“With the popularity of Stieg Larsson’s novels, and Spooks and Wallander on television, it seems thrillers have gone upmarket in recent years. In that respect Graham Greene was ahead of his time. Greene himself referred to The Ministry of Fear as one of his ‘entertainments’, but critics agree it has elements of his more serious novels.”

Creative Team

Adaptor Daniel Jamieson
Director Nikki Sved
Designer Trina Bramman
Composer and Musical Director Thomas Johnson
Lighting Designer Marcus Bartlett
Company Stage Manager Elaine Faulkner
Sound Designer Duncan Chave
Cast Chris Bianchi, Craig Edwards, Derek Frood, Michael Wagg, Benjamin Warren and Jordan Whyte
Musicians Adam Cross & Nick Laughlin

Listings Information
Venue: Exeter Northcott, Stocker Road, Exeter
Date: Fri 26 February to Sat 6 March (not Sun 28 February or Mon 1 March)
Times: 7.30pm. Student matinee Wed 3 March 1.30pm. Matinee Sat 6 March 2.30pm
Tickets: £12 to £22, concessions half price
Running Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Box Office: 01392 493493
Website: http://www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

First Night Party Fri 26 Feb, 7.30pm
Audio-described performance and Touch tour Thu 4 March, 7.30pm
Post-show talk Thu 4 March, 7.30pm
BSL Interpreted performance Sat 6 March, 7.30pm

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