As the legendary Cornwall-based theatre company closes, the people who made its astonishing productions look back on four decades of mayhem and innovation
Mike Shepherd (founder, artistic director): Kneehigh’s first show got me arrested. The Adventures of Awful Knawful, in 1980, was about the world’s greatest stuntman. We did it in Mevagissey, Cornwall, with the ridiculously brave John Mergler who became a triathlete champion. Every time I left the tent, a policeman would try to march me away because I didn’t have a performance licence. I didn’t know I needed one. When we got to the end, I did a bow – and he read me the riot act.
I’d dabbled in the London theatre scene but didn’t want to do plays. I wanted to work in a different way. Our shows were action-driven and cinematic. We’d do stunts off harbours, staging them like crazy film trailers. We did Around the World in 80 Days in 80 minutes. There was a big clock ticking – and the audience knew we’d never get through it.
