Pegabovine
Encyclopedia
Pegabovine is a comedy theatre company based in London and Exeter, UK, which performs in London and at the Edinburgh Fringe
. The company is built around a core of four writer-performers: poet and winner of an Eric Gregory Award
http://www.societyofauthors.net/soa/page_id_sub.php4?pid=30&parentid=7&par_nm=Prizes,%20grants%20and%20awards Luke Kennard, Jenny Sutton, Matthew Henry Johnson, and Tom (Davis) Wateracre.
"A Meeting About Laughter", precursor to Pegabovine, was created in 2001 in Exeter
after Matthew Henry Johnson and Tom Wateracre, two students in the Drama department at Exeter University, had the idea of setting up a comedy company. Using the basement of a local pub,http://www.pegabovine.co.uk/amalexeter.html they held a fortnightly open forum for comedy writers and performers. Their show "The Freudian Slip" at the National Student Drama Festival
in 2003 won two awards—a Judges' Commendation for Comic Writing, and the Festgoers' Prize for most popular play.http://www.computer-scooter.co.uk/nsdf/pages/blue/50years.html In early 2005 the company renamed itself "Pegabovine" and relaunched with a series of projects.http://www.pegabovine.co.uk/projects.html
The name "Pegabovine" comes from their adaptation of the Aleksandr Griboyedov comedy Woe from Wit
. In Act Four, the character Repetilov decides to read some of his poetry to the main character, Chatsky:
Their play "Pegabovine: The Slush Pile"http://www.pegabovine.co.uk/tsp-press.html was performed at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Pleasance
Dome. In August 2007, Pegabovine returned to the Pleasance for the Edinburgh Fringe with their new show "Pegabovine: Coat Of Arms".http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_festival_2007/p/15473/pegabovine:_coat_of_armshttp://www.pegabovine.co.uk/coa.html
In February 2008 a podcast
, "Pegabovine: House Of Mirth", started; all three episodes to date have also been syndicated on the Comedy 365 and 404 Funny podcasts. The podcast follows hot on the heels of an appearance on BBC Radio 4
's 28 Acts in 28 Minutes
.
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
. The company is built around a core of four writer-performers: poet and winner of an Eric Gregory Award
Eric Gregory Award
The Eric Gregory Award is given by the Society of Authors to British poets under 30 on submission. The awards are up to a sum value of £24000 annually....
http://www.societyofauthors.net/soa/page_id_sub.php4?pid=30&parentid=7&par_nm=Prizes,%20grants%20and%20awards Luke Kennard, Jenny Sutton, Matthew Henry Johnson, and Tom (Davis) Wateracre.
"A Meeting About Laughter", precursor to Pegabovine, was created in 2001 in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
after Matthew Henry Johnson and Tom Wateracre, two students in the Drama department at Exeter University, had the idea of setting up a comedy company. Using the basement of a local pub,http://www.pegabovine.co.uk/amalexeter.html they held a fortnightly open forum for comedy writers and performers. Their show "The Freudian Slip" at the National Student Drama Festival
National Student Drama Festival
The National Student Drama Festival was founded in 1956 by the Sunday Times arts columnist - the festival's first artistic director - Kenneth Pearson, the Sunday Times theatre critic Harold Hobson, and NUS president Frank Copplestone. The Sunday Times Editor, H.V...
in 2003 won two awards—a Judges' Commendation for Comic Writing, and the Festgoers' Prize for most popular play.http://www.computer-scooter.co.uk/nsdf/pages/blue/50years.html In early 2005 the company renamed itself "Pegabovine" and relaunched with a series of projects.http://www.pegabovine.co.uk/projects.html
The name "Pegabovine" comes from their adaptation of the Aleksandr Griboyedov comedy Woe from Wit
Woe from Wit
Woe from Wit is Alexander Griboyedov's comedy in verse, satirizing the society of post-Napoleonic Moscow, or, as a high official in the play styled it, "a pasquinade on Moscow."The play, written in 1823 in the countryside and in Tiflis, was not passed by the censorship for the stage, and...
. In Act Four, the character Repetilov decides to read some of his poetry to the main character, Chatsky:
REPETILOV: Will you hear ‘The Turkey Takes Flight’ or ‘Occurrence in a Nunnery’?
CHATSKY: I really couldn’t choose.
REPETILOV: I’ve also a short dramaticule called Pegabovine about a flying cow. But I’ll begin with ‘The Turkey Takes Flight’. "Oh turkey, with your strange beard of flesh / And yellow eyes knowing nothing of your destiny / How art thou? And how dost thou dance?"
Their play "Pegabovine: The Slush Pile"http://www.pegabovine.co.uk/tsp-press.html was performed at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Pleasance
Pleasance
The Pleasance is a street in the Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is largely residential, although the University of Edinburgh owns property in the area.-University of Edinburgh union:...
Dome. In August 2007, Pegabovine returned to the Pleasance for the Edinburgh Fringe with their new show "Pegabovine: Coat Of Arms".http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_festival_2007/p/15473/pegabovine:_coat_of_armshttp://www.pegabovine.co.uk/coa.html
In February 2008 a podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
, "Pegabovine: House Of Mirth", started; all three episodes to date have also been syndicated on the Comedy 365 and 404 Funny podcasts. The podcast follows hot on the heels of an appearance on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's 28 Acts in 28 Minutes
28 Acts in 28 Minutes
28 Acts in 28 Minutes is a stand-up TV comedy show aired on the UK's BBC Three. It comprises 28 acts, each given a minute to perform. A 3-part series also aired on BBC Radio 4 in June 2006, chaired by John Humphrys.- Show One :- Show Two :...
.