Out of Order at HOME

Based in Sheffield, Forced Entertainment have earned international acclaim and a reputation as world leaders in contemporary performance practice. Established in 1984, with an impressive archive of groundbreaking experimental work, their longevity and their contribution to the growth and development of British theatre is to be commended.

An impressive archive of groundbreaking experimental work.

Forced Entertainment’s work explores and often explodes the conventions of genre, narrative and theatre itself drawing influence not just from drama but from performance art, dance, music culture and popular forms such as cabaret and stand-up.

Forced Entertainment have been at the forefront of new developments in theatre and performance for 35 years. They have been key players in the development of contemporary theatre language, and the debate on the form itself. Repeatedly exploding even more boundaries, we’re thrilled that Forced Entertainment will bring their new work, Out of Order to HOME this week.

In Out of Order, a troupe of unfortunate clowns rehearse old jokes and get hopelessly lost in new ones. On a bare stage under bright light, these clowns dressed in red suits with smeared make-up and awkward grins, do their unlevel best to get along in a bid to pass the time. Driven by a heavy musical score Out Of Order teeters precariously between funny and not funny at all, comical and absolutely tragic. This performance is different from anything that Forced Entertainment have created before, in that it uses no spoken language.

This performance is different from anything that Forced Entertainment have created before, in that it uses no spoken language.

Of Out of Order, Artistic Director Tim Etchells said: “We are thrilled to be taking our latest group work Out Of Order on its first UK Tour this autumn. Brash, challenging and distinctively Forced Entertainment, it’s also the first piece we’ve ever made with no spoken language – a really exciting move in the development of what we do. ”