I Am Thomas Explained

I Am Thomas: A Brutal Comedy with Songs
Image Upright:1.25
Setting:Edinburgh 1696 and Present Day
Place:Liverpool Playhouse
Orig Lang:English
Subject:Thomas Aikenhead

I Am Thomas: A Brutal Comedy with Songs is a play based around the death of Thomas Aikenhead, the last person to be hanged for blasphemy in Britain. The play received its world premiere at the Liverpool Playhouse, in February 2016, before embarking on a short UK tour. It is a co-production between Told by an Idiot, the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Lyceum Theatre.[1] [2]

Production history

I Am Thomas: A Brutal Comedy with Songs is a devised theatre play[3] created by Told by an Idiot,[4] based on the real-life story of Thomas Aikenhead, a student from Edinburgh who was prosecuted and executed at the age of 20 on a charge of blasphemy.[5] He was executed at Gallow Lee in Edinburgh[6] in 1697 and was the last person in Britain to be executed for blasphemy.[7] Told through the medium of song, the play is set in Edinburgh between 1696 and present day. On 14 April 2015, it was announced by The Royal Lyceum Theatre, that the play would form part of the 50th anniversary season of the Royal Lyceum Theatre company.[8] [9] It is a co-production between Told by an Idiot, the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Lyceum Theatre.[10] I Am Thomas received its world premiere at the Liverpool Playhouse on 24 February 2016, following previews from 19 February, for a limited run until 27 February.[11]

The play is directed by Paul Hunter, artistic director of Told by an Idiot,[12] with design by Laura Hopkins,[13] lighting design by Paul Anderson,[14] music by Iain Johnstone,[15] lyrics by Simon Armitage[16] and sound by Adrienne Quartly.[17] Following its premiere production the play embarked on a short UK tour[18] in March and April 2016, visiting The Lowry, Salford, Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, and Wilton's Music Hall, London.[19] The play features an ensemble cast of eight[19] who take it in turn to play the title role.[11] The cast includes John Cobb, Charlie Folorunsho, Amanda Hadingue, Myra McFadyen, Hannah McPake, John Pfumojena,[20] Dominic Marsh and Iain Johnstone who wrote the plays score.[21] A typical performance runs two hours, including one interval of 20 mins.[22]

Critical reception

The play has received mixed to positive reviews from critics.[23] [24] [25] [26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Simon Armitage on his comedy about the last man hanged for blasphemy . . theguardian.com . 17 February 2016 . 20 February 2016 . 19 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160219213231/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/feb/17/i-am-thomas-aikenhead-play-told-by-an-idiot-simon-armitage-blasphemy . live .
  2. Web site: Theatre that minds your language . . heraldscotland.com . 22 March 2016 . 22 March 2016 . 4 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160404063920/http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/14374223.Theatre_that_minds_your_language/?ref=twtrec . live .
  3. Web site: Told by an Idiot tells the story of the last man hanged for blasphemy . . liverpoolecho.co.uk . 18 February 2016 . 20 February 2016 . 22 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160822025859/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/watch-am-thomas-liverpool-playhouse-10908199 . live .
  4. Web site: I Am Thomas at Liverpool Playhouse . . thetimes.co.uk . 25 February 2016 . 26 February 2016 . 25 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160225212826/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/firstnightreviews/article4699189.ece . live .
  5. Web site: I Am Thomas, a timely adaptation of a 17th century blasphemy execution . . scotsman.com . 23 March 2016 . 23 March 2016.
  6. Web site: I Am Thomas, a tale from Edinburgh's dark past . . edinburghnews.scotsman.com . 22 March 2016 . 22 March 2016 . 5 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160405082323/http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/entertainment/preview-i-am-thomas-a-tale-from-edinburgh-s-dark-past-1-4078953 . live .
  7. Web site: I Am Thomas at the Liverpool Playhouse . . liverpoolecho.co.uk . 24 February 2016 . 22 March 2016 . 25 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160225110732/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/review-am-thomas-liverpool-playhouse-10938898 . live .
  8. Web site: The Lyceum Announces 50th Anniversary Season! . . lyceum.org.uk . 14 April 2015 . 28 April 2015 . 30 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150630215415/http://lyceum.org.uk/press/entry/the-lyceum-announces-50th-anniversary-season . live .
  9. Web site: Brian Cox and Bill Paterson return to Lyceum for 50th anniversary season . . list.co.uk . 14 April 2015 . 19 April 2015 . 8 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150708191130/https://www.list.co.uk/article/70015-brian-cox-and-bill-paterson-return-to-lyceum-for-50th-anniversary-season/ . live .
  10. Web site: A thoroughly modern travesty of 18th-century justice . . heraldscotland.com . 13 March 2016 . 23 March 2016 . 4 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160404061431/http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/14340362.A_thoroughly_modern_travesty_of_18th_century_justice__Review_of_I_Am_Thomas/ . live .
  11. Web site: Told By An Idiot takes gallows humour literally in this new musical production . . thestage.co.uk . 25 February 2016 . 26 February 2016.
  12. Web site: I Am Thomas review – freedom of speech theatrics . . theguardian.com . 28 February 2016 . 16 March 2016 . 14 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314061335/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/feb/28/i-am-thomas-review-thomas-aikenhead-simon-armitage . live .
  13. Web site: 'I Am Thomas' at Liverpool Playhouse . Wirral Globe . wirralglobe.co.uk . 25 February 2016 . 26 February 2016 . 7 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160407085117/http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/14302479.HOT_OFF_THE_STAGE___I_Am_Thomas__at_Liverpool_Playhouse/ . live .
  14. Web site: I Am Thomas Company . Whats On Stage . whatsonstage.com . 24 March 2016 . 4 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160504114431/http://www.whatsonstage.com/edinburgh-theatre/shows/i-am-thomas_84383/cast/ . live .
  15. Web site: I Am Thomas review – singalong-a-blasphemy in Simon Armitage show . . theguardian.com . 26 February 2016 . 26 February 2016 . 27 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160227041717/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/feb/26/i-am-thomas-review-told-by-an-idiot-liverpool-playhouse . live .
  16. Web site: I Am Thomas's brutal comedy is a bold theatrical experiment . . telegraph.co.uk . 26 February 2016 . 26 February 2016 . 10 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160410095545/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/i-am-thomass-brutal-comedy-is-a-bold-theatrical-experiment/ . live .
  17. Web site: I am Thomas a brutal comedy with songs – UK Tour 2016 . . nationaltheatrescotland.com . 16 March 2016 . 5 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160405120957/https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/content/mediaassets/pdf%5C/I%20AM%20THOMAS%20freesheet.pdf . live .
  18. Web site: National Theatre of Scotland announce start of 10th anniversary season . Whats On Stage . whatsonstage.com . 11 November 2015 . 24 March 2016 . 14 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151114191713/http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/national-theatre-of-scotland-announce-season_39117.html . live .
  19. Web site: I Am Thomas Coming to Wilton's Music Hall in April . Broadway World . broadwayworld.com . 21 March 2016 . 22 March 2016.
  20. Web site: I Am Thomas - a brutal comedy with songs Team . Told By An Idiot . toldbyanidiot.org . 30 March 2016 . 12 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160312110702/http://www.toldbyanidiot.org/productions/i-am-thomas/ . live .
  21. Web site: Brutal comedy with songs explores hidden piece of history . Salisbury Journal . salisburyjournal.co.uk . 2 March 2016 . 22 March 2016 . 7 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160407023030/http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/14315202.Brutal_comedy_with_songs_explores_hidden_piece_of_history/ . live .
  22. Web site: I Am Thomas Run Time . . twitter.com/lyceumtheatre . 30 March 2016 . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213222546/https://twitter.com/lyceumtheatre/status/715276958775566336 . live .
  23. Web site: A rhapsody of ill-invented nonsense, patched up partly of the moral doctrines of philosophers, and partly of poetical fictions and extravagant chimeras . . list.co.uk . 29 March 2016 . 30 March 2016 . 9 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160409004139/https://www.list.co.uk/article/79579-theatre-review-i-am-thomas/ . live .
  24. Web site: Brutal comedy with songs' on the last man executed for blasphemy is exuberant but confused . The Arts Desk . theartsdesk.com . 26 March 2016 . 30 March 2016 . 28 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328172647/http://www.theartsdesk.com/theatre/i-am-thomas-royal-lyceum-theatre-edinburgh . live .
  25. Web site: Theatre review: I Am Thomas, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh . . scotsman.com . 25 March 2016 . 30 March 2016 . 12 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160412021331/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/theatre/theatre-review-i-am-thomas-royal-lyceum-theatre-edinburgh-1-4082874 . live .
  26. Web site: I Am Thomas at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh . . heraldscotland.com . 25 March 2016 . 30 March 2016 . 25 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125033341/https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/arts_ents/14383514.theatre-review-thomas-royal-lyceum-theatre-edinburgh/ . live .

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