Chance to wag the tale

PREPARE for a truly epic night at the theatre next week, when Hobart hosts an entertaining and educational “retelling of the most badass stories from around the world”.

Described as “slam poetry without too much earnestness ... storytelling without being

condescending”, The Epic takes audiences on an adventure through time, from the cradle of civilisation onwards, as the show’s two irreverent and passionate stars unpick and retell a series of myths, texts and really good stories from throughout history.

Featuring heroes ranging from Gilgamesh to Vin Diesel, many of the stories have lost their relevance in today’s society, or have simply faded away over time.

The Epic aims to drag them into the modern world, peel them to pieces and make them present again.

Maybe these days we’re too modern, bitter or cynical for these tales. But The Epic proves that anyone can be a hero — if you tell the story right.

Some of the stories are outrageous, some of them are freaky. But all of them are epic, and audiences will be sharing them long after the show finishes.

The Epic is written and performed by Finn O’Branagain and Scott Sandwich (Tom Hogan), the founders of Perth/Sydney theatre company Ten Tonne Sparrow — who use storytelling, pop-sociology, pop-science, history and plenty of charm and exuberance “to talk about the stories we tell about ourselves”.

Ten Tonne Sparrow presents The Epic in the Theatre Royal Backspace from 7.30pm next Thursday and Friday (March 22 and 23). Tickets are $45, $35 concession, go to www.theatreroyal.com.au or phone 6233 2299 for bookings.