Four of Swords Present: Orpheus

This October, Four of Swords leads you back into the belly of the earth, illuminated by candlelight, to witness an ancient tale of love, loss and the desperate search for what has been taken from us.

The legendary musician Orpheus has lost his beloved Eurydice to the kingdom of the dead. Armed with nothing but his lyre and an unbreakable will, he descends into the Underworld itself to charm its rulers, move its shadows and reclaim her. But the dead do not give up their own easily.

Drawing on the classical myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and its haunting Middle English retelling Sir Orfeo, where a king wanders a faerie wilderness in grief for his stolen queen, Four of Swords weaves together live original music, theatre and spectacle to conjure a world where myth, memory and the hidden histories of Beer Quarry Caves collide.

“There’s only one problem with intimate and almost tangible theatre like this, the kind which surrounds you, whisks you up and takes you with it, you won’t want to go back to sitting in an auditorium again.” Express & Echo (Exeter)

As with previous Four of Swords productions, audiences will stand and walk for the duration of the show. Please wear sensible footwear and warm clothing. Please note this show might be a bit too spooky for young children, so it isn’t recommended for under 11s.

Ticket tiers

Things are difficult at the moment; the cost of living is high, and arts funding is tight. It’s tough out there for all of us.

In line with what some of our creative friends in the sector are doing, Four of Swords are offering four ticket tiers. Some reflect what it actually costs to bring this show to life in the caves. Others allow those who can give a little more to quietly hold open a door for someone who can’t, and to support the company’s future work.

Bringing this show to life costs around £30,000. As a not-for-profit company, ticket income helps pay artists fairly, make ambitious new work and keep theatre accessible.

Patron £45 – Your generosity supports others to attend and enables the development of future work.
Friend £33 – Paying it forward. Your ticket helps someone else attend.
Standard £25 – Pays the real cost of bringing Orpheus to life.
Community £17 – No one is left behind. These tickets are supported by Friends and Patrons tickets.

Age guidance
11+ (references to death and grief)

Accessibility information
Audiences will be standing and walking throughout the 75-minute show. Please wear sturdy footwear and warm layers, and bring a torch to help you to and from your car.