Helen Peacocke looks forward to the first of two fun productions by Flintlock Theatre

A fast and furious romp through the classic tale of Don Quixote will be staged, under the title Don Q, at the Old Fire Station from October 22 to 25 — but first Flintlock Theatre, who are now considered Oxfordshire’s most innovative Theatre Company, bring us The Speakeasy.

This fully interactive fundraising event, which immerses the audience in a series of Speakeasy scenarios, takes place for one night only, this Saturday, at Summertown Church Hall, which will be transformed into a 1920s nightclub.

This promises to be a really lively evening. From the moment the audience enter they will be immersed in a series of Speakeasy scenarios, hosted by One-eyed Bill and The Ration Flappers, interspersed with Lindy Hop Dance lessons and live music from Jivin’ Miss Daisy (fresh from Ronnie Scott’s). It should be a night to remember.

As the evening’s emphasis is on having fun, members of the audience will be invited to join in by donning 1920s-style clothing from the dressing-up box before taking to the floor.

Flintlock Theatre is the brainchild of the talented husband-and-wife team Robin Cloyer and Anna Glynn from Eynsham, who founded the company in 2012.

Their enthusiasm and energy ripples through their productions. They also demonstrate great ingenuity, as will be seen in Don Q when they pull the classic story into the 21st century, such that although the basic tale remains, it has taken on a remarkable modern twist.

Don Q still features a knight errant and his faithful servant, and yes, they are still inept righters of wrongs. But for this production Quixote is Norman Quixote, an ageing pensioner lost in his books and living out his twilight years in a home for the aged.

He retreats into tales of knight errantry and damsels in distress and so embarks, like Don Quixote, on a quest to fulfil his destiny, taking his carer and loyal friend Sam along with him.

While they don’t fight windmills, they do battle with muggers, hoodies and sometimes sheep, to become the righters of wrongs. Quite by chance they end up putting the world to rights for those they least expect to help. Gypsy-jazz, dance and bicycles turn this production into an unforgettable romp.

Anna promises that, like their previous laugh-out-loud production of Gogol’s The Government Inspector, Don Q will keep the audience sitting on the edge of their seats as it carries with it a deeply moving pathos, particularly towards the end.

Anna, the executive director, says she is confident that the audience will come away with a sense of how brief and brilliant life is. She sees it as an uplifting offering that contains that particular sense of positivity that makes such a differ-ence to our lives. She believes it also emphasises the importance of friendship.

The critics say Flintlock Theatre is all about pushing boundaries of simple theatrical devices and therefore displays the polish and flair of a long-established company. In other words, Flintlock is anoutstanding company which will certainly go from strength to strength.

Together with her husband, Flintlock’s artistic director Robin Colyer, Anna also founded the Oxford Academy of Performing Arts in 2010.

Tickets can be booked for The Speakeasy, on Saturday, at Summertown Church Hall, and for Don Q, which takes place at the Old Fire Station on October 22-25.

The Speakeasy
Summertown Church Hall
Saturday
Tickets: £20 from wegottickets.com/flintlock