The Dark Carnival

A music and theatre spectacle, The Dark Carnival features sixteen performers and musicians. Through songs, spoken word and Vanishing Point’s unmistakable imagery, they tell the story of newcomers to the afterlife who discover, much to their surprise, that death is not actually the end. Incredulous at their continuity, they form their own necropolitan community where every night is party night: songs get sung, love gets made and whisky flows.

Above the ground, the cemetery brims with life. But a mysterious event throws the lives of the living into uncertainty. When news reaches the cemetery, an underground revolution begins, led by the stoical Mrs Mark and her band of necropolitans.

Created and performed by Vanishing Point and A New International, The Dark Carnival transported audiences into an unexpected vision of the afterlife - full of long-lost lovers, half-hearted ghosts, and songs that find themselves in a musical space somewhere in between Leonard Cohen and The Muppets.

Main image photography Mihaela Bodlovic & Niall Walker | Art Direction Niall Walker

Press

“★★★★★ each and everyone sings out for the great refusal, and for the joy of life itself”

— The Herald

“★★★★ sit back and revel in this strange and wonderful entertainment for the moment we live in, and for all those who understand how human beings can always create songs and stories, wit and beauty, even in extremis’”

— The Scotsman

Credits

Vanishing Point
A New International
The Dark Carnival

A co-production with Citizens Theatre
In association with Dundee Rep Ensemble

Conceived, written and directed by Matthew Lenton
Songs and lyrics by Biff Smith
Music by A New International
Set & Costume Design by Kenneth MacLeod
Lighting Design by Simon Wilkinson
Assistant Director Nikki Kalkman

Cast includes:
Olivia Barrowclough
Malcolm Cumming Robertson Trust Citizens Theatre Actor Intern
Elicia Daly
Peter Kelly
Natali McCleary
Ramesh Meyyappan
Ann Louise Ross
Laurie Scott

The band:
Biff Smith
Caroline Evens
Craig Laurie
Stephen McGourty
Jo Shaw
Harry Ward
Ross Bahlaj
Euan Allardice

Production Manager Fiona Fraser
Company Stage Manager Naomi Hoolahan
Head of Stage Dave Stabback
Stage Manager Gillian Richards
Stage Manager Kara Jackson
Lighting Technician Andrew Gannon
Sound Engineer Amir Sherhan
Sound Engineer Fuzz Guthrie
Costume Supervisor Sophie Ferguson
Costume Assistant Rebekah Chapman
BSL Interpreter Amy Cheskin
BSL Interpreter Catherine King
Make-up Artist Daniel Livingston
Supported Artist Adam Gordon
Set-build Pretty Scenic