Let us introduce ourselves...

We are Hammerpuzzle!

Hammerpuzzle Theatre Company was established in 2007 by graduates from Bath Spa University’s Performing Arts: Acting degree course under the tutelage and guidance of Gunduz Kalic. Hammerpuzzle continue to have a solid relationship with the university and their in-house theatre company Full Tilt. A collection of graduates decided that they wanted to continue to work with one another in the same fashion to which they had been trained; with play, with verve, and with generosity. The graduates wished to create an outlet for fellow and future students to persist in this rich vein of theatre training. So, Hammerpuzzle was created.

What is Hammerpuzzle?

Hammerpuzzle is a single word that was fashioned from an amalgamation of ideas, which best describe and embody the work produced. A stimulus is taken, most often a classic or renowned piece of literature, and then, through an intense exploration process, the company dive in and immerse themselves in that particular world. Together, they hunt for the essence of the piece. What speaks to the performer as an individual and as an ensemble? What absolutely compels the actor to tell this particular story? Once this gut reaction to the text at hand has been captured, work begins on placing it all back together again in a completely new, rehashed, re-invented, and relevant form. It is as if the text is literally smashed apart (with a hammer!) and pieced back together again like a jigsaw. This completes the picture that the company believes it should be.

SO, what's this blog about then?

Hammerpuzzle are currently rehearsing our latest show; William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’, which we are taking to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. This reinvention is directed by Sam Grogan, with founding Hammerpuzzle members as the cast. This blog will relay the core parts of our rehearsal process; how we generate ideas, how we devise based around the original text and contexts, and how we work with each other to create a production. We are excited to share our rehearsal experiences with you, and hope that you can catch us at the Fringe!