Hoipolloi tell the Story of a Rabbit in Liverpool

May 16 2008 by Michael Green, Flintshire Chronicle

EVERYMAN regulars Hoipolloi return to Liverpool with a comic and curiously uplifting show celebrating the complexities of death from Welsh eccentric Hugh Hughes.

Story of a Rabbit lifts the lid on life’s final mystery until May 17 at the Everyman Theatre.

When Hugh finds his neighbour’s rabbit lying dead in his garden, the only sensible thing to do is to put it in a box. But it doesn’t fit. As he puzzles over what to do he starts to wonder how much of life disappears once we die.

Combining Hugh Hughes’s uniquely charming theatricality with slideshows, short film sections and music from his best friend Aled, Story of a Rabbit explores the complexities of life in a funny, moving and uplifting manner as he recalls the death of his neighbour’s rabbit when confronted with the death of his father.

This is Hugh’s second visit to the Everyman alongside collaborators Hoipolloi following last year’s Floating. A regular at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Story of a Rabbit was a Fringe First Award winner as well as a Total Theatre Award nominee.

Hoipolloi’s links with the Everyman are well-established, appearing on Hope Street just last month with The Doubtful Guest and have previously brought The Imposter to the stage.

Performance artist Hugh Hughes said: “In Story of a Rabbit I tell two stories. One about a rabbit and the second about my father.

“The theme of death links them and by telling them together I hope the show helps us let go of any fear we have of dying. A lot of people asked me why I was making a show about death. I told them it was because so many questions surrounded the subject that it felt very attractive.”

For booking information, ring 0151 709 4776 or visit the website:www.everymanplayhouse.com