heatre goers have dubbed it “Devastating”, “Unforgettable”, “Deeply moving” – Total Theatre Magazine calls it “Dynamic, challenging, beautifully written…packed with irony, humour and shock.”

Now Almost Human, a shattering piece of physical theatre that dissects Man’s inhumanity to animals, is to be unleashed at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

A play supported by Sir Peter Hall and Sir Derek Jacobi, Almost Human has toured eastern England to huge critical and audience acclaim.

It tells the story of a chimpanzee who is captured in his African jungle home and finds himself by turns a circus act, a zoo inmate and a TV commercial “star”. But his usefulness to his owners is all too brief: his ultimate destination is a research laboratory, where a momentous act of human kindness awaits him…

This is a play about the horrors of animal use and abuse and much more besides. It is about power and vulnerability, arrogance, deception, exploitation and humiliation. It is about the inhuman condition.

The performance uses no props or costumes, relying instead on the skill of its four-person cast – in particular Kelvin Goodspeed, whose remarkable ape mimicry brings “Tarzan” the chimp alive.

Almost Human is written and directed by leading youth theatre playwright Robert Rigby, whose work has been performed by the Wolsey Theatre, Tiebreak Theatre and Y Touring. His TV script writing credits include the popular Byker’s Grove school series.

The play runs from 5-24 August at the Edinburgh Festival at the Bedlam Theatre, 11B Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ (venue no. 49). Performances start 5pm. Tickets £7.50 (£5.50 concessions).

ENDS

 

Kelvin (one of four young actors in the Almost Human cast) studied books by Dr Goodall and visited the chimps at Colchester Zoo to enable him to "become" a chimp for his role. Now an expert in chimp movements and behaviour, he plays the part without a costume, relying on his uncanny chimp behaviours. Recently, he met Dr Goodall and delighted her with his chimp behaviour - they also indulged in some mutual chimp grooming! Says Jane: "This excellent play will help the plight of the thousands of chimps being exploited by Man...I have no doubt that audiences will be enthralled and inspired."
What the Papers Say
	Scotsman.com
	Edinburghguide.com

For more information contact Carol McKenna, LYNX PR on 01962 793003, mobile: 0797 9805169, email: carolmckenn@aol.com or Lynne Kentish, Director Lynx Theatre in Education on 01284 765105, email: lynne.kentish@talk21.com