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Perfect Show for Rachel

Zoo Co/Improbable

— ,The Pit
Rachel sits at a desk filled with different round buttons. She is wearing a red coat and blue jeans with her hair tied up. Her sister Flo is sitting next to her looking up and smiling.

Step into Rachel's world as this ★★★★★ (Guardian) show returns following a sold-out run. Discover how a learning disabled artist has the power to lead the creation of her ‘Perfect Show’.

Rachel is a theatre-loving, enigmatic 33 year-old who loves Kylie Minogue, heckling from the front row and seeing people falling over. She is a learning disabled care-home resident, and sister to Flo, Zoo Co’s Artistic Director.

Sitting on-stage on a throne with her custom-built tech desk, Rachel takes charge as the director of every unique performance in real-time. A touch of a button can trigger live music, theatrical scenes and dynamic choreography, brought to life instantly by performers. 

Perfect Show for Rachel was developed with Rachel, to create a show on her own terms. It explores who defines artistic taste, and questions who that currently excludes. Created by Zoo Co Theatre, a multi award-winning company creating theatre that loudly champions access, with Improbable, a pioneering company of improvisers and theatre-makers. 

Tagged with: Theatre & dance Theatre and Dance Winter 2024 Young Barbican

Running time: 1 hour and 10 minutes, no interval

Age guidance: 14+ (strong language)

Please note: flashing lights may be used during this performance

Buddy scheme
If you’re coming to see the show alone, Zoo Co are running a buddy scheme so they can pair you with a friendly Zoo Co ‘buddy’. You can meet them beforehand, watch the show together and maybe chat about it after. Just email [email protected] and she’ll pair you up.

Access performances 
All performances include a mixture of creative captioning, live captioning and integrated BSL meaning it will be accessible for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences. Due to the improvised nature of some parts of the show, some scenes may just have creative captions or integrated BSL.

Audio described performances:
Sat 1 Jun, 2pm 
Touch Tour 12.30pm

Thu 6 Jun, 7pm
Touch Tour 5.30pm

Visual story
If you would like a visual story, please email theatre@barbican.org.uk. 

Introductory notes
Read our introductory notes.
Listen to the audio introductory notes.

All performances are Relaxed Performances. Find out more here.

Take a look at our Accessible Events page to find out more about the accessibility of our venues.

Seating information
The seating in The Pit theatre is raked with no arm rests and the seats flip-up (they are 50cm wide and 53cm deep).  

 

Presented by the Barbican

Co-produced by Zoo Co and Improbable 

Supported by Arts Council England & Esmee Fairbairn

The original production of Perfect Show For Rachel, winner of the 2022 Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award, was supported by the Trust and the Barbican.

Appearance of individual performers not guaranteed.

Image credit: Holly Revell Photography and Madison Coby (designer).

 

Creative team

Rachel O’Mahony Director
Stella Backman Set and Costume Designer
Rachel Sampley Lighting and Video Designer
Han Sayles Assistant LX and Video Designer
Simeon Campbell Choreographer
Esme Cooper Fight Director
Sophie Woolley Dramaturg (BSL)
Daryl Jackson BSL Translator
Access team Hannah Skaili (Access Coordinator), Maria Laumark (Access Support Worker), Laurie Ogden (Access Support Worker), Ruth Newbury-Payton (Access Support Worker), Betty Williams Singh (Company support worker), Ess Grange (Audio Describer) & Lucy Flight (Carer)
Production team Chloe Stally-Gibson (Production Manager), Charlotte Driessler (Stage Manager), Fana Sunley-Smith (Stage Manager) and Seraphina Denton (Production Assistant)

Cast

Flo O’Mahony Performer, Lead Artist and Artistic Director, Zoo Co
Lee Simpson Performer, Lead Artist and Artistic Director (Improbable)
Fleur Rooth, also Creative Access Director, Zoo Co Performer and Creative Access Director
Joshua Goodman Performer and Musical Director
Nick Gilbert Performer and Sound Designer
Wendy O'Mahony Performer and main carer for Rachel O’Mahony
Becky Barry
Folarin Akinmade
Sara Dawood
Stephen Collins
Gabriel Akamo
Austin Yang

Ticket prices

Members and Members Plus enjoy 20% off ticket prices for this show.

No booking fee. Subject to availability.  

Become a member.

Corporate Members enjoy discounted tickets to this show.

2 tickets max per booking. Subject to availability. 

Become a Corporate Member 

£5

Subject to availability.

Aged 14–25? Join Young Barbican for free. 

Wheelchair spaces, free companion seats may now be booked online.    
Please select the relevant preferences on the access registration page during your booking so we can provide you with the correct information and discounts.    

Booking a wheelchair space:
Select a seat displaying the wheelchair user icon and then select wheelchair user ticket type. The ticket will be priced at the lowest price for that event. If you need an essential companion, please select the E icon next to the wheelchair space you have selected.    

Booking essential companion tickets:
Please select at least two tickets and one of them will be automatically discounted to zero in the basket.    

Booking British Sign Language or Captioned Seats:
Select seats in the area appropriate to your needs.   

Groups   
Groups can book at a 20% discount, subject to availability. Contact [email protected] to make a group booking.   

Schools  
£8*, subject to availability.

Students   
Save 50% on Wednesday performances, subject to availability. 

Under 16’s   
Save 50%, subject to availability. 

*If you are a teacher or group leader planning a trip, you can receive up to £300 towards the cost of a visit to a wide variety of inspiring venues managed by the City of London Corporation. Find out more.

*Excludes £4 booking fee
‘a total delight... devised with deep affection and attention to detail‘
Guardian
‘A disarming labour of love ‘
The Times
‘A joyous piece of anarchic knockabout fun‘
The Stage
‘This company challenges the lip-service paid to accessibility.‘
The List

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Relaxed performances

All performances of Perfect Show for Rachel are Relaxed Performances as standard, meaning the usual rules of being in a theatre audience are relaxed, and you are warmly invited to respond to the show however is natural for you.

For this production:

  • The house will be opened early to allow you more time to find your seats.
  • A member of the cast will lead a pre-show welcome talk.
  • The Front of House team are briefed on providing a more informal service and relaxing the standards in regard to audience behaviour during the performance.
  • Latecomer and re-admittance points will be relaxed to allow people to leave and re-enter the auditorium more freely. 
  • There will be low level lighting throughout the performance to ensure your safety if you need to move about.
  • Auditorium doors will be kept open during the performance to assist you in entering and exiting the theatre during the performance.
  • Some seats are kept off-sale so you can move around during the performance more freely (within reason and managed by the Front of House team).
  • The cast and creative team warmly welcome you to move around or make noise however you may need to.
  • A quiet chill out space is provided with comfortable seating.
  • Ear defenders are available if you need them.

There will still be sound and lighting effects in the show according to Rachel's creative vision. There are some flashing lights during the performance but no sudden loud noises.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to discuss further before making a booking.  Contact the Theatre team at [email protected] or 020 7638 4141 extention 7434.

Take a look at our Accessible Events page to find out more about the accessibility of our venues.

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Be there when it happens with discounted access to unmissable art and entertainment as well as events and creative opportunities for 14-25 year olds
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