Marshall Miles interviews:

Derek Brashears who the director

Hotchkiss Dramatic Association Presents “Shockheaded Peter: A Junk Opera”

April 27 – 29

The Hotchkiss Dramatic Association is pleased to present Shockheaded Peter: A Junk Opera, April 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m. and April 29 at 2:30 p.m. The production is directed by Derek Brashears, Director of Theatre, Resident Designer, and Technical Director at The Hotchkiss School. Shockheaded Peter epitomizes this season’s theme of “Dreams & Nightmares” and is based on the 1845 German children’s book of poems, Struwwelpeter or “slovenly Peter” by Heinrich Hoffmann. In 1998 the book was adapted for performance by the London based avant-garde cabaret group, The Tiger Lillies, with Julian Bleach, Anthony Cairns, Tamzin Griffin, Jo Pocock and Graeme Gilmour. The show was first commissioned by the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds and the Lyric Hammersmith, London and won the 2002 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment.

Set to music adapted for Hotchkiss by students in the show’s band, the poems are cautionary tales of the fates that befall the naughty, mischievous children Hoffman created. The production features puppets designed and built by Brashears with the cast of Hotchkiss students as puppet masters. The tone of the production is darkly comic and may not be appropriate for children under the age of 12.

All performances take place in Walker Auditorium. Tickets are $10; $5 for students and seniors. Cash or check is accepted and patrons may buy tickets at the door; no reservations are necessary. As per long tradition, the Sunday matinee performance will benefit a local charity to be determined.