Beautiful Evil Things | Hackney Empire

About Beautiful Evil Things

A fierce, funny, bloody take on some of the oldest stories known to woman. From a killer gorgon.

5 Stars
“Dynamic, illuminating and hugely entertaining”
The Scotsman

What if there was another take on the Trojan War? Enter Medusa. Monstrous gorgon? Snakes for hair? A turn-to-stone glare? Perhaps. But she was there.

Beautiful Evil Things is a high-energy one-woman show from Ad Infinitum, combining physical storytelling with cut-throat wit. Coming hot on the heels of their multi award-winning hit Odyssey, this funny, thrilling and poignant show "brings tears to your eyes and raises your heart rate” (The Guardian).

Number 4 in The Guardian's Best Theatre of 2022.

Presented by Ad Infinitum. Co-commissioned by Tobacco Factory Theatres, supported by Wardrobe Ensemble.  Made possible through funding from Arts Council England

5 Stars
“Blistering, powerfully choreographed”
The Arts Desk

5 Stars
"We are captured heart and soul by the sheer force of energy on stage"
Theatre Weekly

Watch the trailer:

Behind the scenes in BSL:

Find out more about Beautiful Evil Things and the BSL integration by clicking here.

Image gallery

Beautiful Evil Things in action:

Actress Deborah Pugh is wearing a white vest with entangled with red cords around her body. Her face is to the ceiling with her mouth wide open and she is trying to break out of the entangled cords. — Beautiful Evil Things Credit : Credit: Camilla Adams

Actress Deborah Pugh in a white vest facing the front with her arms out open. She is holding a mic stand in her right hand. — Beautiful Evil Things Credit : Credit: Camilla Adams

Actress Deborah Pugh is wearing a white vest and a black blazer with a snake brooch. She is standing in front of a mic stand with her hands up in the air. Photo taken by Camilla Adams. — Beautiful Evil Things Credit : Credit: Camilla Adams

Actress Deborah Pugh in a white vest. She is facing the side and holding the mic stand up towards the ceiling. The mic end is in her hand facing her mouth. — Beautiful Evil Things Credit : Credit: Camilla Adams

Actress Deborah Pugh wearing a white vest. She is facing the front with yellow stage light on her. She is holding the mic stand with both hands, swinging it from the left. — Beautiful Evil Things Credit : Credit: Camilla Adams

Actress Deborah Pugh is wearing a white vest and a black blazer with a snake brooch. She is holding the mic next to her lips with her right hand. — Beautiful Evil Things Credit : Credit: Camilla Adams

Actress Deborah Pugh is wearing a white vest and black trousers. She is facing directly at the camera and smiling. She has the mic in her right hand behind her body, and her left hand is towards the front. There is a pale green light on her — Beautiful Evil Things Credit : Credit: Camilla Adams

Contact list of staff members

George Mann and Deb Pugh
Role
Co-creators
Deb Pugh
Role
Deviser, Performer & Co-Composer
George Mann
Role
Director
Sam Halmarack
Role
Sound Designer & Co-Composer
Ali Hunter
Role
Lighting Designer
Katie Sykes
Role
Set and Costume Designer
Ed Borgnis
Role
Production Manager
Megan Vaughan-Thomas
Role
Associate Director
Kyra Pollitt
Role
BSL Interpreter
Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford and Lynn Stewart-Taylor
Role
BSL Consultants
Fergus Waldron
Role
Technical Stage Manager
Nir Paldi
Role
Dramaturgy
Camilla Adams
Role
Trailer & Production Photos