Brecht Hitler satire at the Playhouse

Ever wondered what Hitler's rise to power would have been like if he was a charismatic Chicago gangster?

Northern Ireland's most progressive theatre companies, Bruiser will be bringing a very different take on the dark beginnings of WWII live to the stage of the Playhouse in Derry on Monday, March 15 and Tuesday, March 16.

Set amidst the economic turmoil of gangster controlled Chicago in the 1930s 'The resistible Rise of Arturo Ui' by Bertolt Brecht is an alarming and savagely hilarious allegory of Hitler's rise to power.

The Fuhrer is portrayed as gangster Arturo Ui, who attempt, via the running of a protection racket, to take over the cauliflower from top-dog Al Capone.

The story of his systematically seduction of the public and elimination of his political rivals in his bid for total domination is a thinly veiled attack on German apathy towards the threat of Hitler's rise to power and a warning to future generations.

Brecht wrote 'The resistible Rise of Arturo Ui' in Finland whilst he was in exile, in about three weeks (the same amount of time as Bruiser's rehearsal period), in March and April 1941.

It has become one of Brecht's best known plays, full of the witty and scathing action that Bruiser does so well.

Adapted by Ralph Manheim and directed by Lisa May, six actors play over fifty characters to perform this powerful play which has already receiving rave reviews in Belfast.

Pauline Ross founder of the Playhouse said: "We're delighted to have Lisa May and her talented troop back on stage at the Playhouse.

"I can't picture a better evening than the fabulous Bruiser team tackling one of Brecht's finest plays. Book now to avoid disappointment!"

Tickets for 'The resistible Rise of Arturo Ui' are 10 / 8 (con) / 6 (school rate) and are now on sale at the Playhouse Box office on (028) 71268027 or online at www.derryplayhouse.co.uk