Milk Presents - JOAN / Sat 7 May

The HopBarn is delighted and eagerly excited about hosting the forthcoming production of JOAN, presented by acclaimed theatre company Milk Presents and in association with Derby Theatre.

Written and directed by Lucy J Skilbeck, JOAN is:

Packed with guts, heart and some well placed couscous, JOAN fuses lyrical new writing with drag king cabaret for the very first time. An earthy story of courage, conviction, hope, survival and love, this is Joan of Arc – quite possibly the worlds first drag king.

Performed by Drag Idol Champion Lucy Jane Parkinson, aka LoUis CYfer, this is a fearless new show about what it means to stand out, stand up and stand alone.

"Magical Transformations of a heretical heroine. This clever retelling of the Joan of Arc story has comic fizz, emotional ballast and cross-dressing that looks like sorcery "

Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

"Theatre that flies in the face of conventionality ★★★★" - The Stage on Milk Presents

Since forming in 2010, Milk Presents have made theatre with the support of distinguished venues such as, Battersea Arts Centre, Camden People’s Theatre, The Junction, Cambridge, The Place, The New Wolsely and Theatre Poton, Slovakia, The Point Eastleigh and Derby Theatre. They have also received support from the BBC Legacy Fund and Arts Council England.

The company is now an Associate Artists of Derby Theatre and JOAN was commissioned by Derby Theatre as part of the Re-Told Series which looked to present one-women plays, opening up old and classic tales but with a fresh and modern perspective.

The production of JOAN marks the first time, The HopBarn has hosted Theatre and we are both extremely excited to have such a renowned production being presented. The production has received rave reviews from a number of theatre critics and papers, many of which have praised the diverse performance of Lucy Jane Parkinson as she switches between characters to present a highly thoughtful and clever portrayal of a young fearless girl in 15th century France, and how such political commonalities that existed then, still resonate in modern society.