Holy Fool

Holy Fool photos

Holy Fool description

Imagine you're a famous classical composer, forced to navigate a terrifying political regime that has seen millions of people slaughtered. This is Holy Fool, the story of Dmitri Shostakovich's efforts to tread the thin line between obedience and rebellion during Stalin's tyrannical leadership. At the high point of Stalin's regime, Shostakovich finds himself walking a lethal tightrope where a single wrong note could see him put to death. Under constant threat of torture, he appeases the brutal dictator while subtly resisting his madness. Compliant from the outside but defiant inside, he composes music using a code that hides as much as it reveals. 

This is a witty, tense exploration of the absurdity of authoritarianism, the nature of rebellion, what bravery means, and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. The play comes from the pens of creative collaborators Rosalind Adler and Lea Sellers, whose experience as writers, screenwriters and TV consultants has seen them involved in all sorts of TV and movie roles. It's directed by the brilliant Kate Fahy, who has delighted audiences with Wet Weather Cover, Little Black Book, Rosenbaum's Rescue, and more. You'll be on the edge of your seat from start to finish. 

Playing at Park Theatre (venue info)