JASPER FROST

    NEON

Caged Bird, UK Tour (2018)

"How would you feel about restoring some faith?"

Jude, a therapist, meets her girlfriend's reclusive flatmate. He spends his time inside drinking Capri Suns. He also claims to be God. But when one of Jude’s patients comes to her having had visions of a strange man in his flat, she finds herself caught up in the birth of John’s new religion.

What lies beyond death? What lay before life? Neon is a bold new play that explores loneliness, death and transcendence, and the potential to find faith in the unlikeliest of spaces.

Neon was first performed at Roborough Studios in Exeter on 4 June 2018, before moving to StuFF Festival at Nottingham New Theatre on 17 June 2018, and finishing a sell-out run at the Camden Fringe, London, on 8 August 2018. The cast was as follows:

Jude    Olivia Denton

Thomas    Ben Mallett

Matthew    Stuart Duncan

John Doe    James Murphy

Sarah    Siobhan McAuley

Freya    Molly Barber

For the 2018 Camden Fringe, Samuel James took over from Stuart Duncan and Patrick Swain took over from Ben Mallett.

Director   Jasper Frost

Playwright   Patrick Swain

Producer   Jonathan Taylor

Assistant Producer   Bridie Shine

Sound/Lighting Designer   Seb Clarkson

Tech Operator   David Taylor

Poster Photographer   Stefan Hanegraaf

The London production of Neon was a sell-out Camden Fringe show, and won The Stagedoor Audience Favourite Award. 

    REVIEWS

"The ambition is palpable . . . [Neon] deals with fantastical themes whilst being grounded in a referential reality" - Exeposé ★★★★½

"Caged Bird Theatre aren't afraid to think big. A gripping, humorous and thought-provoking tale." - Views From The Gods ★★★★

"Strong, snappy, funny and varied, both in its darker and lighter scenes . . . all well directed by Jasper Frost" - Broadway Baby

"A tight, funny, tragic, often devastating piece" - Lesley-Ann Jones

Neon was chosen as one of TimeOut’s 'Ten Shows You Have To See at the Camden Fringe 2018’. 

It was also selected by Londonist as one of 'The Top Ten Things to See At This Year's Camden Fringe', after being in the Top 5 Most Anticipated Camden Fringe Shows on Stagedoor.

It was recommended by British Theatre Guide as a Top Pick at the Camden Fringe.

    INTERVIEWS/ARTICLES

'Patrick Swain on faith: need, loss and a new encounter' - London Pub Theatres

'Interview: Jasper Frost on Caged Bird Theatre's NEON' - AlwaysTimeForTheatre 

'Camden Fringe Interviews and Previews' - FringeReview