A Peculiar River is a dark, musical comedy, very loosely based on William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. Ideal for anyone who likes their dictators corrupt, their pianos thrust-upon and their champagne straight out of the magnum.

This production combines elements of cabaret, clowning and musical theatre. It is based on an original script by Dug Williams, created from work devised by the troupe. It follows the story of a makeshift family of lunatics and degenerates, as they try to govern themselves and build some structure in their illogical world.

A Peculiar River was first staged by the troupe on 28th & 29th March 2009 at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Praise for Alchemy Troupe’s previous production, Scratching the Surface:

Thrilling, erotic and poetic; Scratching the Surface weaves words, movement, music and visuals to create a disturbing and entrancing hour-long thriller. The text, written in rhyme by Dug Williams, depicts the story of what might be a woman, or what might be merely an uncomfortable smell, in a block of apartment flats, and the haunting encounters that its residents have with this otherworldly beast that resides in flat 7F. A weird, dystopian take on living in close proximity to strangers and the secrets that they bare. Beautifully interwoven. Very slick. Superb performances from an ensemble who, quite literally, bare all. Expect more from Alchemy Troupe at Goldsmiths in the near future. (SMITHS Magazine, Dec ’08)