Hello!
It's Madison Maylin and James Lawrence of Black Sheep Productions, here - a new film and theatre company that seeks to tell important, thrilling, and bold stories. Thanks for taking a look at our fundraising page.
We're the team behind Tyke - a gripping new play by Rebecca Monks that imagines the events leading up to the true story of an abused circus elephant’s tragic break for freedom. We're taking the show to this summer's Edinburgh Fringe Festival for a full (month-long) run, with three previews at Above The Arts Theatre in Leicester Square. 10% of all our takings at the Fringe will go to a (soon to be chosen) animal welfare charity.
So, what's it about?
Proudlove’s world-famous circus is crumbling. Faced with a financial crisis, his enterprise could fold within a year. The ringmaster knows he needs to bring in the crowds to save it, and for this, he’s relying on his prize attraction: Tyke the elephant.
Stefan – Proudlove’s protégé – is tasked with teaching Tyke new and more demanding tricks. He hires a skilled and passionate apprentice, Veronica, to assist him. The two fall in love, but their relationship is tested when she rebukes the circus’ brutal training methods.
This touching new play is grounded in the
true story of Tyke – who killed her trainer in front of thousands of circus spectators, escaped, and died in a hail of gunfire. The play uses puppetry to explore love, power, morality, and animal nature.
Why does it matter?
The play revisits and explores one of most infamous deaths of a wild animal in captivity - asking questions about our morality and power as human beings.
Our treatment of animals and our reasons for keeping them in captivity is still at the forefront of a global conversation. You may have heard of Harambe, the Gorilla shot dead in Cincinnati Zoo last month; or you may have watched Blackfish, a documentary that changed how the world viewed Killer Whales in Seaworld.
Sharing Tyke's story is important because wild animals are still mistreated all over the world, and right here i
n the UK, it's still legal to use wild animals in circuses.
Why are you fundraising?
Taking a show up to the Fringe is expensive, and our project requires a big team to pull it off. As a company, we aim to be completely open with everyone who works with us, and those who help fund us can expect the same transparency. Below you can see how far your donation could go.
-
Puppet: Tyke is a beautiful life-size elephant puppet which is being built by the extremely talented Maia Kirkman-Richards. Approx £400 for materials
-
Accommodation and travel: We have to get our 6 performers and Tyke up to Edinburgh, and put a roof over their heads for a month. Approx £2,250
-
Marketing / flyers / posters / listings in apps and magazines: With so many shows at the Fringe, getting the word out is essential: Approx £600
-
Insurance and contingency: We want to make sure the show can still go on should anything happen. Approx £380
Paying our performers is not covered in this crowd-funding goal.
We're part of the Free Fringe, which means no tickets and no box office - we rely on audience donations at the end of each show. We have chosen not to use the traditional 'profit-share' model (which usually means that the cast wait for weeks to be paid, and only after production costs have been recouped). Instead, we're working to the below model, which makes it harder for the company to recoup but we feel that it's the fairest way to do things. Our two directors and our producer are actors too, so we feel strongly about this issue.
- 50% of all donations will go directly to our performing company
- 40% to recouping production expenses (if we don't raise enough here)
- 10% to an animal welfare charity
How can I help?
We hope to create stimulating and moving theatre whilst contributing to a vital global discussion on animal welfare. We want to raise money and awareness for an amazing cause. And we don't want Tyke's story to finish in Edinburgh, we are aiming to secure a transfer or tour of the show, and your contribution helps us reach a potential audience of thousands.
But to do this, we need your help. We have a range of really exciting perks for those who contribute to our campaign:
- Free tickets and a glass of prosecco to our West End previews
- Signed posters and memorabilia from the show
- Free photoshoot
- Free 1-hour puppet workshop with Tyke herself
- 1 week stay in a luxury villa for 8 people in Puerto Banus, Marbella
Can't contribute financially? We totally get it. Really, we do. But could you help us make some noise around the show?
-
Follow @TykeThePlay
- Tweet using #TykeThePlay
- Share our event on Facebook: Previews and the Edinburgh Run
- Share our IndieGogo campaign far and wide
- Know any charities, or people interested in sponsoring us? Put them in touch via madisonmaylin@gmail.com
Who are you?
We've assembled a really exciting creative team to help bring Tyke to life:
-
Writer: Rebecca Monks. Author and Journalist at The List Magazine. Her 2015 show Scour received ★★★★★ and was hailed as: 'the best thing on the Fringe', and 'exemplary theatre'.
-
Co-Director: Madison Maylin. Actor and director. Directed Full Circle at the Arts Theatre in the West End, receiving ★★★★ reviews from FemaleArts and London City Nights for her 'deft touch'
-
Co-Director: Madelaine Cunningham. Actor, director and writer. Winner of Best New South African Script and Best Newcomer for her performance in play Transition. ★★★★ in South Africa's National Theatre Festival.
-
Producer: James Lawrence. His last performance in a Fringe show, Travesti, won the Scotsman Fringe First and Three Weeks Editors' Awards, and received ★★★★★ from The Skinny, who called it 'a masterpiece of modern theatre'.
-
Puppet Maker: Maia Kirkman-Richards. Maia is Artistic Director of puppetry theatre company House of Stray Cats. 'inventively made and helmed puppets' - A Younger Theatre
-
Puppet Director: Alice Sillett. Artistic Director of critically acclaimed puppetry company Moon On A Stick -‘Truly magical’ ,‘Different, original and visually captivating'
Thank you so much for all your support, see you at the Fringe!
