Irresistible tale of gangster's life (From Gazette Series)

Irresistible tale of gangster's life

AUDIENCES can look forward to an evening of adventure with the latest production by the Kelvin Players.

To launch its exciting 2006 season, the Kelvin Players are presenting Bertolt Brecht's famous play The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.

Arturo Ui, a two-bit gangster, smells the stench of corruption among Chicago's Cauliflower Trust.

Using blackmail, intimidation and straightforward good old honest violence, he forces his way to the top of the vegetable cart. Can the grust use him for its own ends? Should it? Can anyone stand in the way? Will they?

Director of this production Richard Thomas said: "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui's got it all - passion, vegetables and swing jazz. Superbly drawn characters are injected with real passion by a talented cast."

Written in 1941, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui uses the story of Ui's eminently resistible rise to power as an allegory for the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany.

Bertolt Brecht draws direct parallels with historical characters to present his 'great historical gangster play'. A brilliant parable, it is at once a trenchant retelling of the past and a serious warning for the future - fascism did not pass with the defeat of Hitler.

Those with an interest in the history of the Third Reich will be able to watch the events of 1920s Germany unfold all too familiarly.

The play runs from Tuesday, January 31 to Saturday, February 4 (7.30pm) at The Kelvin Studios, 253b Gloucester Road, Bristol.

Tickets can be booked by calling 0117 959 3636.