Thumper, the Peripatetic Players Head Whirlygig-Maker, has a brilliant idea: Since the members of the famous Fellowship had to travel by foot, the Players will, too — they’re packing all of the whirlygigs, wigs, and whatnot into suitcases and trunks rather than into FluxWagon, their folding mobile stage. All of Middle Earth will come out of the suitcases, and the Players will bravely perform sans stage for the first time!
It’s quite an audacious experiment, and we’re reasonably confident that Samuel (Peaches, the Peripatetic Players’ leading man and impressario) will think it is a *genius* idea.
Behold, some designs-in-progress! Including Princess Gwen in a princess wig, paper claws painstakingly crafted by Percival Perkins, and statuesque illustrations by Meekins!
But this isn’t the first time the Players have tackled Tolkien’s epic tale! In early 2018, Samuel tried his hand as an artiste in a new medium, the silver screen… and the Players bravely filmed several scenes of The Fellowship Of The Ring starring Princess Gwen as Frodo, Guy Hank as Gandalf, Madame Directrix as both Merry and Pippin, Mr. Peaches as Samwise Gamgee, and Thumper and Meekins as two terrifying Ringwraiths. Percival Perkins made a detailed shotlist and kept the shoot running on schedule.
Have a look at some of the film stills here, and join the Players in Santa Clara, Oakland, Alameda, or Port Costa this summer!
Samuel Peaches is nearly as brilliant a film director as he is a stage director, as evidenced here by his groundbreaking use of perspective to make the Hobbits appear smaller than the Ringwraiths.Thumper also played Bilbo, pictured here on his eleventy-first birthday as Gandalf (Guy Hank) gives a thumbs-up. The dianoga from Shakespeare or Space Wars had a guest appearance as the Eye of Sauron. In this dramatic scene, Gandalf fails to notice the similarities between the names “Sauron” and “Saruman.”
Learn to slip, trip, fall and bounce back on June 16!
Thumper‘s very good friend, Joan Howard, will lead this Physical Comedy workshop. This workshop was postponed from its original date of March 17.
You’ll learn the basics of physical comedy and knockabout clowning, from solo slapstick to group melees and building comedic bits. You’ll build essential skills like tripping, tumbling, falling, and running into walls. We’ll also cover comic slaps, hair pulls, foot stomps, and head bonks. Finally, we’ll explore comic structure, and you’ll string your skills together to create a short slapstick performance with other workshop participants that will serve to develop character and tell a story.
This workshop is for actors, improvisers, clowns, comedians, and anyone who is excited to develop their physical funny. Open to all skill levels and ages 15 and up. Sign Up Here!
The basics:
What: Physical Comedy with the Peripatetic Players
When: June 16, 2019, 12pm – 3pm
Where: Port Costa, California
Cost is just $50, which supports both Idiot String and the Port Costa Conservation Society. Residents of Port Costa, Crockett, or Tormey pay just $10 thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Crockett Community Foundation.
After the workshop, explore the wonderful and tiny town of Port Costa, where you can hike the hills, relax with a book, or discover whimsical artwork and fabulous antiques — making the whole day an invigorating experience.
We are excited to play with you!
What to bring:
Snacks and/or a bag lunch
Water bottle
Notebook or journal and pen(cil)
Closed-toe shoes and clothes you can move in
How to sign up:
Joan Howard is a physical theatre performer and clown. She plays Thumper of the Samuel Peaches Peripatetic Players, and is one-half of the acrobatic clown duo Max & Antoinette, who have appeared at San Francisco Theater Pub and the foolsFURY Factory Parts Festival. Joan teaches the next generation of professional clowns at San Francisco Circus Center’s Clown Conservatory, where she is co-director of a new social clowning program called ClownCorps. Joan also feels particularly fortunate to visit hospitals with the Medical Clown Project. She has performed with We Players and foolsFURY, and has presented original performances at Physical Theatre Salon at Main Street, LEVYSalon, Barbary Coast Amusements, Literary Clown Foolery, The Clown Cabaret, and Ei8ht. In 2010, she co-founded Main Street Theatre in San Francisco’s Excelsior district, an alternative performance venue dedicated to physical theatre and the variety arts.Joan studied clowning and pedagogy with Giovanni Fusetti of Helikos, is a graduate of Flying Actor Studio’s Physical Theatre Conservatory, and holds a BFA in Sculpture/Performance Art from California College of Arts & Crafts. She is co-creator of Idiot String.
Mdme Directrix’s very good friend, Rebecca Longworth, will lead a workshop on January 27 called Ensemble Character Creation with the Peripatetic Players.
This workshop is open to all! In it, you’ll create your very own character, and play together with other workshop participants to perform an original adaptation of a short fairy tale… just like the Peripatetic Players do it! Read on for more info, then Sign Up Here!
The basics:
What: Ensemble Character Creation with the Peripatetic Players
When: Sunday, January 27, 10am – 2pm
Where: Port Costa, California
Cost is just $40, which supports both Idiot String and the Port Costa Conservation Society. Residents of Port Costa, Crockett, or Tormey pay just $10 thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Crockett Community Foundation.
The details:
Stretch your theatrical muscles, develop your own eccentric character, and hone your ensemble-creation skills!
In this workshop, Idiot String’s Artistic Director, Rebecca Longworth, will guide you through the Peripatetic Players’ signature style of character-building and collaborative creation, rooted in delight and play. You’ll come away with a new character ready to hit the stage in a variety of settings, new insight and confidence as a performer, and new collaborators dedicated to accessible ensemble theatremaking. You’ll also laugh a lot!
Using methods developed by the Peripatetic Players use to create their actor-characters, you’ll cultivate delight, vulnerability, and authentic presence on stage. You’ll gain insight into your habits as a performer, using those as strengths to build from. Then, through improvisation, eccentric exploration, and play, you’ll develop a brand-new character that’s unique to you! Your character will find their voice and form relationships, then build an ensemble with other delightful weirdos to adapt a short fairytale together.
After the workshop, explore the wonderful and tiny town of Port Costa, where you can hike the hills, relax with a book, or discover whimsical artwork and fabulous antiques — making the whole day an invigorating experience.
We are excited to play with you!
Who is this workshop for?
We’re looking for participants from a variety of backgrounds with a range of performing experience…
Actors who want to incorporate more physicality, playfulness, or vulnerability into their character work
Physical performers ready to deepen ensemble skills, mindfulness, vulnerability and play
Performers of all stripes seeking to gain insight into their habits, incorporate a sense of delight and play into their practice, or explore new ways of collaborating in ensemble
Anyone seeking more relaxation, confidence and delight on stage and working in groups
Those interested in devised theatre-making, collaboration creation, or the Bay Area ensemble theater community
Non-actors with an openness to learning new techniques, accessing vulnerability, and building ensemble
What to bring:
Snacks and/or a bag lunch
Water bottle
Notebook or journal and pen(cil).
Closed-toe shoes and clothes you can move in, preferably solid, neutral colors.
What’s provided:
Some costumes and accessories to try on — we encourage you *not* to bring your own, but instead to surprise yourself with something new!
A creative environment rooted in connection, support, and delight.
How to sign up / cost:
Your investment of $40 supports Idiot String, our workshop leaders, and the Port Costa School as a community space. Residents of Port Costa, Tormey, and Crockett pay just $10, thanks to generous sponsorship from the Crockett Community Foundation.
Our summer tour of Shiver We Timbers! closed on August 12. It was a swashbuckling adventure to be sure, full of pleasures and perils. With your help, we found the lost treasure of Penelope Pandulce Potrero (the Pirate Princess of Pangea), and we made lots of new friends and reconnected with old ones — over 1000 of you came to see us this summer!
Every adventure was a bit different — because you picked it! On our voyages, we explored uncharted isles, encountered “graceful” mermaids and dancing undersea creatures, were cursed by sea magic, escaped scrapes in the mythical pirate port of Puerto Peruguano, met our doom aboard a scurvy ship, were dragged to the depths by the Kraken, collided with an iceberg, were rammed by an enemy ship, and even came under attack from small pirates wielding paper cannon balls. But never once were we struck by lightning! What luck.
A sea storm hits the Good Ship Peripatetic! Photo by Soren Santos.
Lord Trelawney (Casey Robbins as Samuel Peaches) attacked by The Kraken (Joan Howard as Thumper). Photo by Soren Santos
Evil Pirates aboard their evil pirate ship: Guy Hank (Paul Collins) as Captain Long Johns Danpier, Samuel Peaches (Casey Robbins) as Lord Trelawney, Meekins (Sam Bertken) as Bloody Lancaster and Princess Gwen (Marlene Yarosh) as Lady Blackhat. Photo by Soren Santos
Thumper and Samuel Peaches take a turn as singing Mermaids. (Joan Howard and Casey Robbins.) Photo by Soren Santos.
Meekins (Sam Bertken), Madame D. (Rebecca Longworth), Thumper (Joan Howard), Guy Hank (Paul Collins) and Princess Gwen (Marlene Yarosh) consult a treasure map. Photo by Soren Santos.
As always, the best part — and, it turns out, the treasure itself — is connecting with you, our audiences. We were especially thrilled to see you dressed up in your most piratical costumes! You came out to your local parks with your littlest family members and your wisest, and even some furry friends as well, and we hope you were delighted by our show. THANK YOU!
A small pirate looks toward the Good Ship Peripatetic during “Shiver We Timbers” at Lincoln Park, Alameda, 2018.
Samuel Peaches (Casey Robbins) as Captain of the Good Ship Peripatetic with new recruits to his pirate crew.
We look forward to seeing you again soon! Between now and our next summer tour, keep an eye out for special events, one-off performances, and workshops!
*Update: this workshop has been RESCHEDULED for Sunday January 27*
The Peripatetic Players and their very good friends Rebecca, Joan, et. al. will be leading a workshop this November 3[rescheduled for January 27!] called Ensemble Character Creation with the Peripatetic Players.
This workshop is open to all! In it, you’ll create your very own character, and play together with other workshop participants to perform an original adaptation of a short fairy tale… just like the Peripatetic Players do it! Read on for more info, then Sign Up Here!
The basics:
What: Ensemble Character Creation with the Peripatetic Players
When: Saturday November 3, 10am – 2pm
Where: Port Costa, California How To Sign Up: Register at this link!
Cost is just $40 to pay workshop leaders, and help support Idiot String and the Port Costa Conservation Society. No one turned away for lack of funds.
The details:
Stretch your muscles of eccentricity and ensemble with the Peripatetic Players!
In this workshop, you’ll experience the Peripatetic Players’ signature style of character-building and collaborative creation, rooted in delight and play. You’ll come away with a new character ready to hit the stage in other settings, new insight and confidence as a performer, and new collaborators dedicated to accessible ensemble theatremaking. You’ll also laugh a lot!
With methods the Peripatetic Players use to create their actor-characters, you’ll cultivate delight, vulnerability, and authentic presence on stage. You’ll gain insight into your habits as a performer, using those as strengths to build from. Then, through improvisation, eccentric exploration, and play, You’ll develop a brand-new character that’s unique to you! We’ll help them find their voice and form relationships, then we’ll take our characters for a spin… building an ensemble with other delightful weirdos, and adapting a short fairytale together.
After the workshop, explore the wonderful and tiny town of Port Costa, where you can hike the hills, relax with a book, or discover whimsical artwork and fabulous antiques — making the whole day an invigorating experience.
We are excited to play with you!
Who is this workshop for?
We’re looking for participants from a variety of backgrounds with a range of performing experience…
Actors who want to incorporate more physicality into their character work
Physical performers ready to deepen skills, mindfulness, and play
Any performers seeking to gain insight into their habits, incorporate a sense of delight and play into their practice, or explore new ways of collaborating in ensemble
Anyone seeking more relaxation, confidence and delight on stage
Those interested in devised theatre-making, collaboration creation, or the Bay Area ensemble theater community
What to bring:
Snacks and/or a bag lunch
Water bottle
Notebook or journal and pen(cil).
Closed-toe shoes and clothes you can move in, preferably solid, neutral colors.
What’s provided:
Some costumes and accessories to try on — we encourage you *not* to bring your own, but instead to surprise yourself with something new!
A creative environment rooted in connection, support, and delight.
How to sign up / cost:
Cost is just $40 to pay workshop leaders, and help support Idiot String and the Port Costa Conservation Society. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Today we’re bringing you some treats from our resident illustrator, Mr. Meekins’ very good friend, Sam Bertken. Sam has been making illustrations for our shows since the very first one, O Best Beloved, before the Peripatetic Players even knew how to peripatet.
For O Best Beloved (2013), Sam drew each of the animals who starred in the stories:
Old Man Kangaroo being chased by Wild Dog Dingo
The Camel
The Elephant’s Child
The Rhino
Aesop Amuck (2015) also featured some animal stars:
Beat Poet Crow
The Tortoise
Town Mouse & Country Mouse
The Hare
The Ill-Fated Mouse Council
Frog Party
The Lion
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
And this year, he’s drawn the pirate Players mid-adventure aboard their ship! Click the image to download a coloring page of your very own!
Through our spring & summer fundraising campaigns, we met our matching challenge of $4000 from the East Bay Fund for Artists! In face, we exceeded the goal by about $400, which will cover the associated costs of credit card and fiscal sponsorship fees. Hurrah! and THANK YOU!
You’re the wind in our sails.
Not only do these dollars help the Peripatetic Players to sail around the Bay this summer, the matching funds from the East Bay Fund for Artists at the East Bay Community Foundation will help Idiot String (the Peripatetics’ parent company) create a new play in Port Costa in 2019.
And thank you also to everyone who gives at our performances. Your kind words and smiles put the wind in our sails, and the dollars that you drop in our hats keeps our shows accessible to all!
THANK YOU!
Here’s what it takes to put on an SPPP summer tour…
$4500 pays artists (actors, designers, director and technicians)
$1500 creates sets, props & costumes
$2500 helps us get the word out
$3500 pays for park permits, truck rental, and insurance
$1365 covers banking fees, office supplies, and other expenses
That’s $13,365 for the whole summer tour — or about $1215 per show. Yay, math!
Is it too late to donate? It’s never too late! We’re still counting on donations throughout the summer to meet our overall budget for the tour. If you’re moved, you can donate right here, right now! Or, come to a show and drop some dollars in our hat. In either case, we hope to see you soon!
Shiver We Timbers! is now open, and the Good Ship Peripatetic has already had two adventures on the high seas! Great audiences and glorious weather turned out for our opening weekend, at Dimond Park in Oakland on Saturday, and Noe Valley Town Square on Sunday.
the Good Ship Peripatetic in Noe Valley’s Town Square
We’re looking ahead now to our next ports of call: Glen Canyon Park, San Francisco, at 3pm on Saturday July 14; and Niles Town Plaza in Fremont at noon on Sunday July 15. Click here for the full schedule, with links to maps!
gathering a miniature pirate crew at Dimond Park
Glen Park fans, have a look at the cool events that the Glen Park History Project has in the works — including a suffragette walking tour of Glen Park the morning of our show.
Over in Niles, train enthusiasts AND silent film buffs will find lots to discover. Sunday’s show happens to coincide with Charlie Chaplin Days, so you may see a bunch of Chaplins dressed in homage to one of our favorite knockabout clowns!
And there’s still time to donate to our matching funds campaign — all donations made through July 15 will be matched by the East Bay Fund for Artists at the East Bay Community Foundation, up to a total of $4000. Read more here, or take the plunge and…
As always, check out our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter feeds for real-time pirate adventure updates! Arrrrrrgh!
As always, Peripatetic Players shows are FREE to all! If you can donate some of your hard-earned doubloons, that helps keep us afloat. And right now, your doubloons are worth double! Make a donation by July 15, and your dollars will be matched by the East Bay Fund for Artists to help create a new show in Port Costa next spring.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram to get a pirate’s-eye glimpse of our voyage!
The Peripatetic Players 