©Slingshot Theatre+44 (0)1483 488 282christopher@slingshot-theatre.com

“SUBLIME EXAMPLES OF MIME, CLOWNING,
SLAPSTICK AND PHYSICAL COMEDY”
The Scotsman
"SCIENTISTS OF LAUGHTER"
Les Temps, Geneva
“COMIC-STRIP LEVELS OF SLAPSTICK... A MASTER CLASS”
EdinburghGuide.com
THE ZANNISKINHEADS AND THE QUEST FOR THE HOLY BALLS
A devised Commedia dell' Arte comedy, based on the ‘Zanniskinhead’ masks created by Antonio Fava.
Directed by Antonio Fava
Performed by Jean-Luc Grandin  and Christopher Hawes.
A collaboration between ArscomicA, ‘O Pernacchio and Slingshot Theatre.

Meet Peenut and Ribbon, two obnoxious and idiotic hooligans, charged by their boss to receive the recently stolen Zanniskinhead grail: The Holy Balls. Cue a cataclysmic globetrotting pursuit, leaving a wake of destruction and offense. With neither a brain cell nor a common language, success seems unlikely at best...

World-renowned Commedia dell' Arte master Antonio Fava created his infamous 'Zanni-Skinhead' mask over 10 years ago, his most extreme experiment into a 21st century exploration of Commedia dell’ Arte, marrying Renaissance artistry and principals with contemporary culture. This production was the 6th outing for this ferocious mask, and indeed the first on English soil.

Performed in English and French over 80 minutes, the show contained a raucous and irreverent energy, blending a mix of slapstick and surreal storytelling. There was plenty of audience interaction too, with two parallel worlds existing at once: the two Zanniskinheads in their quest, and the two actors’ relationship with each other and the audience. The use of mask allowed a very clear delineation between which world we were in, and facilitated a wonderful sense of play between the two.
Researched & Developed in March, 2010 in the UK. Rehearsed in May, August and October of 2010, in Italy and Switzerland.
Premiered at the Theatrum Comicum Festival, Geneva, November 2010.
Previewed in the UK at Jacksons Lane ‘Postcards’ Festival and Latitude Festival, July 2011.

UK Premiere at the Edinburgh Festival 2011 (Underbelly). Toured the UK from September 27th – October 17th, supported by Arts Council England. Average audience size was 100 per performance.