Heracles: Of Men and Beasts
King's Court Theatre, King William's College, Castletown, Isle of Man, IM9 1TP
Thursday 17th September 2026
The award-winning Kiwi theatre company return with their new original musical.
Following their highly successful UK debut at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with their brilliantly conceived fusion of Shakespeare and bluegrass music, New Zealand’s The Barden Party return with a brand new, all-original folk musical. Heracles: Of Men and Beasts is based on the hero of Greek mythology, but focuses on the man within rather than his legendary deeds, his struggle with his darker self and his fraught relationship with Hera, Queen of the Gods.
Four characters explore a timeless question: who are we when no one is watching – hero, man, beast or god? Ancient folklore is blended with 1940’s Hollywood aesthetic through a highly innovative live-looping musical landscape, where one musician creates the sound of a full band.
The Barden Party was conceived during the Covid-19 lockdown by American- Kiwi actor/director Laura Irish, who wanted to create a form of theatre that could not be cancelled. She formed a touring troupe, originally for outdoor shows (The Bard + Garden Party = Barden Party), featuring top quality actors and production associates who could communicate the tragedy and joy of Shakespeare’s work to new audiences by presenting it in an engagingly accessible form.
The enthusiastic response given to the company’s UK debut at last year’s Fringe encouraged them to return and give Heracles… its international premiere at this year’s event.
Following their highly successful UK debut at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with their brilliantly conceived fusion of Shakespeare and bluegrass music, New Zealand’s The Barden Party return with a brand new, all-original folk musical. Heracles: Of Men and Beasts is based on the hero of Greek mythology, but focuses on the man within rather than his legendary deeds, his struggle with his darker self and his fraught relationship with Hera, Queen of the Gods.
Four characters explore a timeless question: who are we when no one is watching – hero, man, beast or god? Ancient folklore is blended with 1940’s Hollywood aesthetic through a highly innovative live-looping musical landscape, where one musician creates the sound of a full band.
The Barden Party was conceived during the Covid-19 lockdown by American- Kiwi actor/director Laura Irish, who wanted to create a form of theatre that could not be cancelled. She formed a touring troupe, originally for outdoor shows (The Bard + Garden Party = Barden Party), featuring top quality actors and production associates who could communicate the tragedy and joy of Shakespeare’s work to new audiences by presenting it in an engagingly accessible form.
The enthusiastic response given to the company’s UK debut at last year’s Fringe encouraged them to return and give Heracles… its international premiere at this year’s event.
