THE IDEA
Rosalie, the play's writer, came up with the idea for the play after she became obsessed with the many stories of hamsters dying dramatic deaths.
Hear a little bit more about it in this video feature we did with UBTV, the University of Bristol's student-run television station.
THE PLAY
Hamsters is the story of wide-eyed hamster, Peanut, the catalyst for five characters’ journey through everything from romance to rage, and chaos to love. Emma and Hannah break up, Frank and Francine are set up, and Ernie the earnest pet shop attendant is strung along for the ride. Peanut comes on the scene in an overpriced cage and wreaks havoc through the lives of these characters, all torn apart but simultaneously bound together by this little guy.
BRISTOL
Hamsters was our first independent play as a theatre company, so it holds a special place in our hearts. It ran for three days at Hamilton House in Bristol, and completely sold out!
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The unintentionally all-female production team of 11 was our biggest crew so far, and it was so fun to get to put on this show with a group of amazing women.
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Scroll down to read some of the things that reviewers and audience members had to say about Hamsters in Bristol...
COMEDIC THEATRE AT ITS FINEST AND MOST HEART-WARMING
EPIGRAM
RAZOR-SHARP, UTTERLY OUTSTANDING
TWSS MAGAZINE
PERFECT BALANCE OF LAUGHTER AND NOSTALGIA
AUDIENCE
WRITTEN WITH INCREDIBLE INSIGHT FOR HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND EMOTION
AUDIENCE
SUCH A CLEVERLY PUT TOGETHER SHOW, WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE
AUDIENCE
NEVER THOUGHT A PLAY ABOUT A HAMSTER COULD BE SO HILARIOUS AND HEARTWARMING
AUDIENCE
CAME AWAY FEELING PRIVILEDGED TO HAVE WATCHED SUCH AN ORIGINAL, FUNNY PLAY
AUDIENCE
BRISTOL CAST
Francine - Molly Grogan
Frank - Nathan Spellman
Emma - Elsa Rae
Hannah - Alice Bebber
Ernie - Tom Wilson-Dowdeswell
BRISTOL CREW
Assistant Director - Ella Hakin
Assistant Producer - Calypso Brennan
Head of Design - Alice Hagan
Design Assistants - Evie Cooper
Design Assistants - Floz Winter-Taylor
Design Assistants - Rose Lela
Marketing Assistant - Victoria Hussey
Photo credits: Henry Gunningham
LONDON 2024
After its success in Bristol, Hamsters was picked up by The Lion & Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town and programmed for January 2024. With a fresh new look from Ali Hagan (Head of Design on both productions of the play) but all the original cast, Hamsters rehearsed for a week in Bristol before heading to London.
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The play ran for five nights to a sold out audience - very grateful for such a wonderful reception on our first London transfer!
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Scroll down for some more pictures of the production...
