Tritone Theatre presents ‘The Greatest Hits of Lily and John’ at Pleasance Courtyard Upstairs, 3rd-28th August 2022.

Founding duo, Calum Sivyer and Rosanna Adams, premiere their debut gig theatre play, The Greatest Hits of Lily and John, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year. A rehoused VAULT 2022 show that sold out previews at The Other Palace, London in March this year!

The show explores the sprawling topic of mental health through scripted dialogue, live original music, movement and comic absurdity. And the two dress in animal costumes to safely steer the characters through anxiety attacks and suicidal thoughts.

Synopsis:

Calling the overthinkers and underachievers, the catastrophisers and the never time buyers - the broken hearted, the bored, the ones who’ve seen it all before…

Lily hasn’t heard from John in weeks. His depression has spiralled and he’s recording a final goodbye. When Lily bursts in uninvited, he panics, lies, and says he’s writing a play. A play with live music about…a dressage horse. Committing to the weird and wonderful, they enact the 'horse play,' colouring the stage with their fears, phobias and failures.

A bitterly honest and tenderly ridiculous account of modern life and love, the show explores mental health issues prevalent among young people today. Focussing on a young man’s experience of depression, the all-too-common struggle to reach out for help, and the consequent emotional labour that the women in their lives can feel obliged to undertake to get them talking. Using scripted playback theatre techniques, the play discusses themes surrounding and leading to suicide, the highest cause of death among men under 45 who are less likely to ask for help or to express depressive and suicidal feelings.

Created By:

Calum Sivyer is JOHN

Co-founder of Tritone Theatre, and co-writer, co-lyricist and composer of The Greatest Hits of Lily and John.

Calum is currently part of the Windmill Players; an improv comedy/musical troupe that plays host at SoHo’s iconic cabaret venue The Windmill Theatre. After graduating from the British Institute for Modern Music, Calum began his career in songwriting/musical performance by creating artistic alter ego JohnlikeJohn; a cartoonish and macabre doppelgänger for Calum. JohnlikeJohn eventually became a full 8 piece band, gaining a reputation for its theatricality and general odd-ball antics “from spidery Tom Waits-like vignettes, to hobo torch songs, to plaintive, thought-provoking introspection – often in the space of one song”. 

Calum is well known for being Keira Knightly's more famous cousin and the re-incarnated soul of Janis Joplin. He spends most of his time hovering above a truck yard and finding the a-tonal differences of velvet materials.

Rosanna Adams is LILY

Co-founder of Tritone Theatre, and co-writer, co-lyricist of The Greatest Hits of Lily and John

Rosanna made her professional debut playing Anna of Cleves in The Mirror and the Light for the RSC at the Gielgud Theatre, directed by Jeremy Herrin. Rosanna is a 2020 graduate of The Oxford School of Drama, prior to which she obtained a BA Hons degree in English from Kings College London. She has a classical dance background.

Rosanna sufferers slightly from Crohn's disease and can be found serving drinks at The Royal Court bar. She's incredibly good at writing emails and looks great in a Lucy and Yak jumpsuit (our unofficial sponsors). Her voice is poetic and often likened to that of an angel.

Directed by:

Alex Howarth is an award winning theatre director and writer based in London.

He was the assistant director on La Traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in January 2020.  He conceived, directed and co-wrote We Live By the Sea which opened the Brits Off Broadway season at 59E59 Theatres in New York, where it was Critic's Pick and Top Theatre of the Year in the New York Times. Nominated for a Fringe First and Off West End Awards for Best Production and Best Ensemble, it also ran at the SoHo Playhouse Off-Broadway, and won Best Theatre, Critics Choice, and Peace Foundation Awards and was in the Top 5 Shows To See in The Guardian during two seasons at Adelaide Festival. He strives to create ensemble-led theatre that is playful, fresh and moving.

Alex lives with an incredible cat, Catticus Finch, almost always seen in very cool but odd matching socks and is directing another show at The Fringe this year - Cassie and the Lights at Big Belly.

Produced by: 

Molly Moody an actor, director and producer. Since graduating from Oxford School of Drama, Molly has acted in multiple short films and in fringe theatre. Co-founder and a co-director of Alinement Productions, a company focused on telling unrepresented stories for stage and screen. For Alinement productions, Molly has assistant directed and co-produced A Lightweight Disposable Product; a live gig-theatre piece inspired by the life of the punk, front-woman, Poly Styrene. Molly also produced and assistant directed Alinement’s second play Wild Wing Doves, produced with Above the Stag in 2021 with a sold out run.

Molly is a scorpio by birth and absolute legend by nature.

We are a new company which was formed whilst training together at the Oxford School of Drama in 2020. 

Tritone Theatre blends folk music with modern theatre. We aim to tell authentic stories about people struggling to be themselves in our ever more uncertain world, and through music, humour and movement we aim to embrace the absurdity of the human experience. We bring personal folklores and taboo subjects to life, in the hope that we leave our audiences feeling less alone.

Instagram: @tritone_theatre_

Twitter: @tritonetheatre

Audience Feedback:

'A very real and relatable account of depression.' 'It was very moving'

'Jumps between the mundanity of modern life and colourful, childlike make-believe.'

'Loved it! The show was about friendship without judgement.'

'The music was amazing' 'Darkly hilarious' 'Raw and relatable'

'Funny, Smart and life affirming'

'So slick and so moving'

'Will any other play be as good as this one?'

The Greatest Gig of Lily and John!

To raise funds we're hosting a fundraising gig at The George Tavern on Sunday 24th July!

You can get your tickets HERE

Or claim your VIP tickets in the rewards!

We'll be supported by alt-folk and modern folk-inspired bands Māsa and Swift’s Summer Band of Merrymen, and hosted by an extra special performer.

There will be a raffle on the night with prizes worth up to £50!!!

The production is partnered by 2 important charities – The Listening Place, which offers free, confidential and ongoing face-to-face listening, by appointment, to people who feel that life is no longer worth living – and HiS Charity, which supports men by helping them to help themselves through holistic therapies and events, thereby hoping to prevent suicide. 

For more info on The Listening Place: https://listeningplace.org.uk/

Volunteer application form: https://volunteertraining.listeningplace.org.uk/volunteer-application-form

For more info on HiS Charity: https://hischarity.org.uk/

Become a volunteer: https://hischarity.org.uk/become-a-volunteer/