A hilarious new show for 6 – 12-year-olds is heading to Worthing’s Pavilion Theatre on Thurs 24 – Mon 28 Aug. Hairy is a playful and frankly laughable exploration of that most versatile and significant feature of human anatomy – HAIR. With a smart mix of comedy, punk rock and clown mayhem, it’s brimming with great generous dollops of bold visual comedy. Hairy is the first show created especially for young people by Spymonkey. They are the UK’s longest-running comedy theatre company, together with London’s Polka Theatre and Worthing Theatres and Museum.
Hair is amazing. It can be styled, waxed, fashioned, jheri-curled, dreadlocked and shorn! Hair can be striking, funny, scary, surprising, gorgeous and greasy! Long, short, curly, straight, thick, thin – it’s everywhere.
Hairnry is a follicle, and he’s one in a million. He arrives at Hairy Mission Control with big dreams of being Head Hair. He’s done his time being a toe hair, a knee hair, even a solitary mole hair… But is he ready to move to the top job? His three follicle friends are on hand to put him through his paces and make sure he’s ready to be a Super-Hairo. But, will they survive a shaving by the demon Barbers of De-Ville? Will they be able to defeat Major General Nit and his nitwit army from taking over the world? Perhaps… with the help of their slippery new invention, the Large Hedrin Collider?
Spymonkey is the UK’s foremost comedy theatre company, creating and performing theatre, variety, site-specific and cabaret work. Touring the UK and internationally, their roots are in physical theatre, circus, street theatre and site-specific work.
“We’ve been making funny theatre for adults for 25 years now,” said Spymonkey’s Joint Artistic Director, and Hairy co-director Toby Park. “We thought, why should grown-ups get all the fun? Also, grown-ups are easy to make laugh. Making a bunch of under-12s roll around in the aisles clutching their sides is way more challenging! To make something that will create a tidal wave of laughter for that most hardcore, demanding and discerning of comedy audiences.”
Spymonkey collaborate as ensemble together with core and associate creatives and we have been making sublimely hilarious and deeply ridiculous theatre since 1998. They now use their Theatre of the Funny manifesto as the basis of productions and an expanding education and training programme. “Polka approached us a while ago to create something for their main theatre space,” added Park. ”It’s been great seeing how the ideas for this have evolved with their experience of making work for young people. We are delighted to be continuing our creative relationship with Worthing Theatres.”
Polka Theatre is one of just a few dedicated children’s venues in the UK. It presents a year-round programme of shows and creative learning activities for ages 0 – 12. “I am so delighted that Polka get this opportunity to create with the UK’s leading physical comedy company,” said Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director, Helen Matravers. “Spymonkey’s incredible reputation for making inventive and playful work makes them the perfect team. They create a truly brilliant and bonkers new piece for young audiences. Hairy will combine clowning, comedy, music, song and all-things hair. It’s a match made in heaven and will provide a summer of laughter on Polka and Worthing Theatre’s stages, without doubt.”
Worthing Theatres & Museum is a unique arts and heritage charity. They have a large portfolio of distinct historic venues in the heart of Worthing.
It presents a vibrant, diverse and entertaining programme of performances, events, film, exhibitions and workshops. As a place-based cultural centre, it drives social, cultural & economic transformation across our communities, bringing people together, building civic pride, and inspiring creativity.
We’re thrilled that Hairy is our first co-production; an entirely original piece of family theatre by the world-class Spymonkey,” said CEO and Creative Director, Amanda O’Reilly Following the London premiere at Polka Theatre, Spymonkey are returning home to the south coast with this anarchic, joyful and silly celebration of hair in all its guises. We can’t wait for the show to hit our Pavilion Theatre stage this summer.”
