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A gritty, witty, multi-media drama featuring the music of The Smiths will paint the moving portrait of an artist at a St Albans theatre.
![Herts Advertiser: Peppermint Muse Theatre Company returns to the Maltings Arts Theatre with The Colours of Kenny Roach [Picture: Pete Stevens]](/resources/images/15530254.jpg?type=mds-article-620 "Herts Advertiser: Peppermint Muse Theatre Company returns to the Maltings Arts Theatre with The Colours of Kenny Roach [Picture: Pete Stevens]")
Peppermint Muse Theatre Company makes a welcome return to the Maltings Arts Theatre on Friday, June 9 at 8pm, with their touring production of The Colours of Kenny Roach, written by Rebecca Russell.
While no longer based here, both the writer and the company will be familiar to St Albans theatre-goers.
Originally developed and staged in the local area, the play was professionally premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2014, where it received five star reviews for its thought-provoking subject matter and moving performances.
The play charts the decline and fall of the precociously talented, charming, self-assured Glaswegian artist and lecturer Kenny.
Inspired by true-life accounts, it honestly and humorously draws the audience into Kenny’s world of addiction.
As the cracks begin to show in the canvases of his creativity and his marriage, even his wife cannot save him from the demons that turn his colourful world to black.
Projection of old masters and original artwork together with a soundtrack by The Smiths poignantly underscore the scenes, and although this sounds like a heavy night at the theatre, artistic director Lisa Stenhouse, who also plays Kenny’s wife, explains that there’s more to the play than a tale of self-destruction.
She said: “Yes, there are dark moments in the piece. But Rebecca, who is very well-known in the St Albans area, has really captured the humour found in every human story.
“There are painfully recognisable observations of alcoholism and its effects on loved-ones and yet the simplicity and wit within the writing make for a life-affirming audience experience.”
She continued: “It means a lot to us to be bringing the show to the Maltings Arts Theatre.
“We’ve performed here many times over the years and are really excited to reconnect with the local audience; hopefully we’ll see a few friendly faces!”
Tickets cost £12 full, £11 concessions and £7.50 under-18s.
• Book online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo
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