Good Grief

Ugly Bucket's production of Good Grief was the winner of the New Diorama, Underbelly, and Methuen Dramas Untapped Award 2022. The show is a kinetic maelstrom of clowning, personal testimony, and a techno soundtrack that explores the death of a friend. The production was published to coincide with its run at Underbelly Cowgate, Edinburgh, in August 2022, and is richly illustrated by artist Kidda Kinsey.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Winner of New Diorama,Underbelly and Methuen Dramas Untapped Award 2022, A dying man's last wish: for his friends to create a show about death. Will it be subtle? Will it be sophisticated? Probably not, but it's his funeral. Literally.

Multi-award-winning physical comedy company Ugly Bucket process the death of a friend in the only way they know how – through a kinetic maelstrom of outrageous clowning, personal testimony, and a thumping techno soundtrack. This edition of Good Grief is richly illustrated by artist Kidda Kinsey, in an explosion of whimsical art that brings the show sharply from the stage onto the page. It was published to coincide with the production at Underbelly Cowgate, Edinburgh, in August 2022.

Ugly Bucket is a multi-award-winning physical comedy company that has been making audiences laugh and cry with their unique blend of clowning, personal testimony, and techno music since 2012. Their latest show, Good Grief, is a powerful exploration of death and grief that takes the audience on a journey through the emotional rollercoaster of losing a loved one.

The show is written and performed by the company's founder, James Morgan, who draws on his own experiences of losing his father to cancer to create a deeply personal and poignant piece of theatre. Morgan's clowning is raw and emotional, while his personal testimony provides a deeper understanding of the pain and loss that comes with losing a loved one. The techno soundtrack, composed by Morgan and his collaborator, Tom Richards, adds a layer of intensity and energy to the show, creating a sense of urgency and chaos that reflects the emotional state of the characters.

One of the standout features of Good Grief is its rich and vibrant illustrations, created by artist Kidda Kinsey. Kinsey's illustrations bring the characters to life in a way that is both whimsical and poignant, capturing the emotional essence of the show in a way that words alone cannot. The illustrations are a perfect complement to the text, adding depth and complexity to the story and creating a visual representation of the emotional journey that the characters are going through.

Good Grief has been receiving critical acclaim since its debut in 2022, with audiences and critics alike praising the company's powerful and emotional performance. The show has been nominated for several awards, including the New Diorama, Underbelly, and Methuen Dramas Untapped Award 2022, and has been described as "a must-see show for anyone who loves theatre" by The Scotsman.

In conclusion, Ugly Bucket's Good Grief is a powerful and emotional exploration of death and grief that takes the audience on a journey through the emotional rollercoaster of losing a loved one. The show's unique blend of clowning, personal testimony, and techno music creates a sense of urgency and chaos that reflects the emotional state of the characters, while the rich and vibrant illustrations created by Kidda Kinsey add depth and complexity to the story. If you are looking for a theatre experience that is both challenging and rewarding, then Good Grief is a must-see show.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350355811