Paint-splattered theatre show Long Live The Little Knife is going on a mini-tour of Norfolk during the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Arts correspondent Emma Knights finds out from artistic director David Leddy about the theatrical fun in store for audiences across the county.

Eastern Daily Press: NNF14 Long Live The Little Knife. Photo: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.NNF14 Long Live The Little Knife. Photo: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan. (Image: www.flickr.com/tgkw)

'A raucous caper,' is the way artistic director David Leddy sums up his show Long Live The Little Knife that is going on a mini-tour of Norfolk.

The show is set to entertain audiences in Diss, Norwich, Loddon, Great Yarmouth and Wymondham on its 2014 Norfolk and Norwich Festival road trip.

Paint-splattered sheets - that David said 'make it look like Jackson Pollock has had a drunken explosion in the room' - will transform each venue into the stage for the absurd show that tells the story of small-time criminals Liz and Jim.

'It's about a pair of small-time con-artists who sell fake handbags and get into a turf war and need to get their hands on £250,000 really fast,' said David.

'They decide to become art forgers - but the only problem is they can't paint!'

He added: 'There's two actors who play all the characters. They lead you through this great caper. You meet a whole range of crazy characters, low-lifes and cockroaches. It's a really fun show, really fast-paced and exciting with lots of twists and turns.'

Along with all the fun, David explained there was also a deeper side to the show.

'The whole piece is about forgery and the blurry line between truth and reality - everything in the piece is a forgery of one kind or another.'

David, who is based in Glasgow and whose theatre company is called Fire Exit, said he had previously worked with the Norfolk and Norwich Festival's artistic director William Galinsky when he was in charge of Cork Midsummer Festival, and that he was looking forward to being involved in the Norfolk arts extravaganza.

'I'm excited to come to Norfolk - it's one of the best festivals in the country so it's lovely to be a part of it,' said David, who has taken his work all over the world from Boston to Buenos Aires and Delhi to Milan, and has earned a number of awards for his theatre work.

Long Live The Little Knife premiered at Film City Glasgow in February 2013 and also went to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

• Long Live The Little Knife is suitable for ages 12 and over (12–15-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult). The mini tour is going to: Diss Corn Hall on Friday, May 9 at 7.30pm; The Garage in Norwich on Saturday, May 10 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm; Loddon and Chedgrave Jubilee Hall on Sunday, May 11 at 7.30pm; St George's Theatre in Great Yarmouth on Monday, May 12 at 7.30pm; and Wymondham & District Ex-Services & Social Club on Tuesday, May 13 at 7.30pm.

Tickets £12. To book visit www.nnfestival.org.uk or call 01603 766400.

The tour is supported by South Norfolk Council.

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