Exeter theatre takes award-winning Bunnies to London

The Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter has been awarded Arts Council funding to tour to Bristol, Salisbury and London.

The award-winning play Bunnies – which will tour from the end of October – was written specially for the Bike Shed by young playwright Kieran Lynn. It was first performed in the Theatre last year and received a Peter Brook Empty Space Award.

The tour will help the Bike Shed develop links with other venues and national companies, raising their profile across the country.

The Bike Shed opened two years ago and has established a reputation for supporting emerging theatre companies and new writing. The 60 seat venue complements other theatres in the city and is part of Exeter’s burgeoning cultural activity.

Arts Council England Director for the south west Phil Gibby said:

“This tour will help to carry the Bike Shed’s name into London and key venues in the south west. These performances will enable the play to reach more audience members than any previous Bike Shed production. We aim to get great art to everyone, and this tour is helping us to fulfill that aim.”

Bunnies was produced following The Bike Shed’s request for up and coming playwrights to respond to David Cameron’s declaration that “state multi-culturalism in the UK has failed”. Bunnies was selected from over 80 new plays which were submitted. It is a dark comedy about a farmer who is having problems on his land and comes up with a solution in his mind – to get rid of every species of animal that is non-native.

The production will tour to the New Diorama Theatre, London, Salisbury Playhouse and the Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol between 23 October and 24 November.