what we do

current and recent projects

We've made a new play. As part of the process, we've been learning to tango and now we're hooked!

Our next performance of Last Dance Saloon is on Friday March 1st, 7.30pm at the Manor Hall, Berrynarbor, EX34 9SE. It's a pudding-and-a-play affair - doors will open at 6.30pm so that you can enjoy your pudding without having to bolt it down! It's a Beaford promotion with tickets available on the Beaford website or from the Berrynarbor shop.

We're delighted to be bringing back East o'the Sun, West o'the Moon for a school's performance in early March. Sorry, but this won't be open to the public. But an early heads-up: if you're in South Petherton for the Folk Festival on Saturday June 15th, you'll be able to catch The Firebird!

We created a response to Climate Change Theatre Action's collection of global playlets for 2023 from a North Devon perspective. We developed work with Theatre Workhouse and two local colleges - Braunton Academy and Chulmleigh College. The project was a collaboration with Beaford and was supported by a project grant from Arts Council England and a further grant from the Edward & Anne Jefcoate Memorial Charitable Trust. There were performances in Braunton, Chulmleigh and Barnstaple at the beginning of December.

Our established work pattern was upended by Covid. A lot less work in schools and no trips abroad over the last couple of years. However, this has led to a renewed focus on activity in North Devon.

With support from Arts Council England, we developedthe first draft of a play for Barnstaple, celebrating the town's historic resourcefulness in the face of adversity. We're plotting the next stage

We have been exploring how best to support early-career theatre-makers in North Devon. In association with Beaford, we ran a concept development weekend in July 2021 for three local companies under the title Theatre Workhouse. We then developed weekly sessions housed at the Queen's Theatre thanks to Selladoor. In December '21, Theatre Workhouse were invited by Beaford to participate in a Climate Change Theatre Action event at Barnstaple Bridge Chambers. On the strength of this performance, Beaford commissioned multi story and Theatre Workhouse to develop a village touring production broaching the subject of climate breakdown in North Devon. We made a successful funding bid to Arts Council England which included a dramaturgical role for Daniel Bye. Titled Where To Begin, the production played eight venues in North Devon in autumn 2022 - further details. We then held a second Theatre Workhouse weekend in April 2023 which saw the beginnings of three further projects from a new cohort of North Devon theatre-makers.

We took Hefted out to Rural Touring Schemes across the UK - supported by Arts Council England. In Autumn 2021 we were in Cumbria, County Durham, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Worcestershire. In Spring 2022 we were in Dorset, Somerset and a final North Devon performance.

Beaford commissioned us to take a special covid-safe Christmas entertainment to villages in North Devon in December 2020. We extensively reworked our production of Beauty & the Beast with collaborators Natalia Riga and Peter Buffery. Thanks to them, the production has a whole new look and an immersive soundscape [video]. We took the show a little further afield for Christmas 2021 and revisited some of the 2020 villages with a reworked East o'the Sun West o'the Moon.

"Stripped right back, the strength comes from the union of intelligent writing and the word-perfect power of the performances."

Belinda Dillon, Exeunt

plays for adult audiences  that respond to the world we live in.

All our productions are around the hour mark and are suitable for studio theatres, arts centres and community halls. We carry sufficient equipment to be able to perform just about anywhere! There are further technical details on each show page.

plays for young audiences  based on myths, legends and traditional tales that speak across the ages.

Tales of adventure from Russia, Scandanavia, Ancient Greece and beyond.

a comprehensive workshop programme  that includes a range of theatre-skills workshops, play-in-a-day events, week-long youth theatre residencies and major community play projects.

"multi story have worked in primaries since 2000. They know the day-to-day pressures and plan their work appropriately. We recommend this company unreservedly."

Cheshire LEA
Traditional tales

The Firebird is a great introduction to multi story's bravura style, full of adventure with a large cast of colourful characters played by just two actors with the whisk of a cloak or the donning of a hat. It also features music and song.

In general we hope to introduce traditonal stories that are not so well known - like Twelve Wild Ducks or East o'the Sun, West o'the Moon - but we do have our version of Beauty & the Beast which children might like to compare and contrast with the familiar Disney treatment.

"Best visiting production we've ever seen - it really captured their imaginations."

Witherley Primary School
Greek and Norse myths

The inter-active nature of Jason & the Golden Fleece has proved very popular and hugely enjoyable. The Labyrinth combines Theseus & the Minotaur with the story of Icarus - Icarus's father designed both the Labyrinth and Icarus's wings! The Adventures of Perseus thrillingly recreates the showdown with Medusa. And we have just started touring a truly delightful verion of Pandora which features some rather special original music.

We have made our first foray into the world of Norse Myth with Viking Tales - a hugely enjoyable introduction to the Norse gods and goddesses and their adventures.

"A superb production enjoyed by everyone - children and staff alike.  I have highly recommended you to other schools."

North Petherton Primary School
workshops

a comprehensive workshop programme plus bespoke learning events and longer-term projects.

"I was amazed at how well it succeeded.  Gill's encouragement and leadership were hugely important in giving us confidence but I also thought that Bill was vital in providing a male role model - so many boys think that "drama's for girls".

Foxton Primary School

"The range of theatre skills and styles that [Beast!] employs makes for essential viewing for students currently working on devising projects."

Tavistock College
plays for adults that students particularly respond to

Beast! goes down well with Years 10 & 11. It is a published text and has been used for exam purposes by a number of schools.

Medea has proved very popular over the years with Years 11 - 13, including with colleges in Chile, Peru, Norway, Portugal and The Ukraine!

Pericles - All At Sea and Digging the Dirt also work very well for older students. Both have formed the basis of a day long programme of performance and workshops.

"The resulting reviews for the Ed Excel portfolio are an insight into the way young people think, written with considerable fervour and a credit to multi story and their talent to enthrall the teenager. Nothing short of magnificent."

Park School
plays for children that students study as an example of the genre

Some schools regularly use one of our children's shows to introduce Year 7s to a variety of drama techniques that take them away from a reliance on TV naturalism. Particularly popular in this context are The Firebird and The Adventures of Perseus, - though any of our children's plays will fill the bill.

"The company offers students a vision of how to make exciting devised theatre with minimal set, costume and props, but masses of invention, energy and creative use of dramatic techniques and conventions."

Truro College
a comprehensive workshop programme

A range of skills workshops plus bespoke learning events and longer term projects. A recently developed day-long workshop package that schools are finding very useful is a mix of excerpts and practical exercises that examines structuring and devising.

"The workshops were tailor made to fit with our curriculum. Bill and Gill facilitated great outcomes with the children in a short time."

"multi story illuminate their chronicles with intelligence and theatricality.  Their approach is spare - there are no wasted movements or empty ideas. And they are marvellous actors."   CBC