The movie The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari was a huge success when it was released in 1920 and still has a pretty strong cult following to this day. The show’s central characters include the mysterious Dr. Caligari from Hungary, a somnambulist who can predict the future, a beautiful lady engaged to be wed to a rich button factory owner, and a bumbling town hall clerk who is in love with said beautiful lady. The storyline is a simple one: an annual fair rolls into the German town of Holstenwall with Dr. Caligari and his sleep-walker act the latest addition, murders are committed, abductions occur and a warped series of events unfold as the audience is led on a journey into the maddened minds of the characters.
Adapted by the Simple8 theatre company who can execute killer storylines (double-pun was very much intended) on a marionette-puppet string budget (see the show, get the reference) the audience can very much expect clever sound effects, intelligent use of the lighting, excellent acting, perfectly synchronised choreography and dark humour from the talented ensemble.
It’s on at the Arcola Theatre in Dalston until 16th March, running Monday – Saturday at 8:00pm every night. Get yourself a ticket (£17) and get yourself inspired by these guys who achieve so much with so little, it comes highly recommended.