Birds of Paradise Theatre Company

Scotland's touring theatre company promoting disabled artists and supporting the arts sector

 Dark Mode  Light Mode   |  Accessibility
A woman in a black dress and a large red feathered head leans back with her arms up.

Productions ►  

Crazy Jane

Spectacular theatre, dance event with an original razor sharp score by Scottish hip hop artists Hector Bizerk

Birds of Paradise Theatre Company present the world premier of Crazy Jane – the story of Jane Avril, star of the Moulin Rouge and immortalised in Toulouse Lautrec’s iconic posters.

Jane invites you in to her life where she will tell you of her extraordinary journey from the back streets and brothels of Paris via the asylum wards of the Salpêtrière Asylum and on to the palace of women, the Moulin Rouge. Join her, Professor Charcot and his junior staff Drs Freud, Tourette, Jung and Alzheimer in the waltz of modern psychiatry, popularly known as The Fools Dance.

Written by Nicola McCartney

Directed by Garry Robson

The Team

Rachel Drazek – Younger Jane Avril
Pauline Knowles – Older Jane Avril
Caroline Parker – Jane Avril’s mother / The Glutton
Buchan Lennon – Toulouse-Lautrec / Jean-Martin Charcot
George Drennan – MC / Mother Superior / Young medical student
Garry Robson – Director
Hector Bizerk (band) – Composers
Sergey Jakovsky – Projection/Video Designer
Kay Hesford – Stage Manager

Garry Robson                   Director
Nicola McCartney          Playwright
Jessica Brettle                  Set & Costume design
Sergey Jakovsky            LX and Av design
Janice Parker                    Choreographer
Louie                               Composer
Audrey Tait                      Composer
Pearl Kinnear
Colin Sutherland           Production Manager
Kay Hesford                  Stage Manager
Robbie Fraser               Technical Manager
Ruairidh Nelson            AV design technician
Jane Hamilton               PR and marketing
Nina Docherty               FST Trainee Producer
Shona Rattray               Producer                     

Tour Dates

Thu 28 – Sat 30 May 2015
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Tue 2 June 2015
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Thu 4 June 2015
Eden Court, Inverness
Fri 5 June 2015
Dornie Village Hall, Kyle of Lochalsh
Tue 9 – 10 June 2015
Summerhall, Edinburgh
Thu 11 June 2015
Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy
Sat 13 June 2015
Bonar Hall, Dundee

Reviews

“Birds Of Paradise Theatre Company has created a two-hour drama-cum-cabaret about that adds another beautiful and haunting strand to the current generation of great work by Scottish-based companies involving artists with disabilities.” “…acting and dancing with a rare, haunting power and sadness.”
The Scotsman
“…comical and gritty production that stays classy throughout.”
“…a unique and imaginative experience.”
The Public Reviews
“Director Garry Robson is a great lover of old-style music
hall, but it’s always with a modern twist – in this case,
the rumbustious score from Glasgow-based hip-hop band Hector
Bizerk, which accompany some superb projected visuals
(including audio transcription) by Sergey Jakovsky.”
Disability Arts Online
“…a play full of fascinating scenes…”
The Guardian
“Crazy Jane is a impressive production that uses a historical
setting to take a contemporary look at the perception of
disability in society.”
The List
“…wild sensual choreography…”
Across the Arts
“The show pits the sights and wonders of Moulin Rouge era Paris against the gritty and candid back streets of Glasgow to both comical and astounding effect.”
Tenament TV

Photos & Videos

A middle aged white woman in a black dressing gown strikes a pose on stage and gives an exaggerated wink. She has short bleach blonde hair, that has been twisted into multiple bunches held in place with black hair clips. Behind her there is a bright orange and white projection that reads 'Club Jane' . Across from this there is a small wooden chair with a table next to it. The chair has a cane resting against it and the table has a purple hat on it.
A man in a long red coat and a black top hat stands at the front of the stage with his arms out. There are actors in the background wearing what looks like Victorian style clothing.
A man in a long red coat and a black top hat extends one arm up to the sky, he appears to be singing. A woman in a Victorian style black dress stands beside him signing. Behind them there is a sprawl of projection screens showing different images.
A middle aged white woman in a big poofy violet dress and a big red feather in her short blonde hair is dancing.
Two women lean back in unison in what appears to be a dance routine. The photo is taken from behind them so only their profiles are visible. They both appear to be white woman, one young and the other middle aged with curly dark hair. The younger woman in wearing a striped white and black dress. The other woman is wearing what appears to be a white dress with a black corset.
A young white actress with short red hair sits on the floor with her knees brought up to her chest. She looks on at another actress in the foreground. This actress appears to be older with curly dark hair that is tied back. She is wearing a white dress with a large black corset.
A close up of an actress in a black and white striped dress. She looks angrily above her. She is white, appears to be in her late 20s and has short deep red hair with a fringe.
A topless man holds a gun to another actors head who is cowering. The man holding the gun is young, appears to be black and has short afro hair. The other actor is a much older white man with receding white hair. He is wearing a white shirt and a black waistcoat.
An actor in a long white tunic and glasses sits at the front of the stage writing. A woman to his right is wearing a black dress that has a large red skirt and a large red feathered hat.and stands with her arms up.
The stage is lit a dim red. An actress in a black and white striped dress stands with her arms in the air.
A man and a woman sit at a table filled with half empty bottles and glass. The man is looking down as he appears to be writing and the woman is pointing at someone out of frame in an accusatory manner. The woman is white, middle aged and has short blonde hair. She is wearing a poofy Victorian style light blue dress that has a large yellow flower at the front of it. She also has large brown feathers attached to the back of her head. The man's face is largely obscured as he is looking down, but he appears to be young. He is wearing a brown hat with a white shirt and a brown and red waistcoat.
A woman in a black corset and a long white skirt stands in front of a stained glass window. She is white, appears to be middle aged and has curly brown hair that is tied up.
A woman in a black dress and a large red feathered head leans back with her arms up.
An actress in a black corset and a long white skirt appears to be singing at the front of the stage. She is white, appears to be middle aged and has curly brown hair that is tied up.
5 actors are spread across the stage dancing as if at an old fashioned ball. Two of them dance together in the middle. They are all in Victorian dress.

Soundtrack