The School for Wives

There is nothing worse for a man, simply nothing at all, than if his wife should make him a cuckold. Certainly for the miserly, controlling, power-obsessed Arnolphe anyway… 

So he has a plan - a cunning, ingenious, and not at all terribly flawed plan at that. Simply squirrel away a young woman from the evils of the world, and she will have no choice but to grow up into the most perfect, loving, and most importantly, faithful wife a man could dream of.

Of course, that’s a terrible idea (not to mention horribly distasteful, and almost definitely illegal), - and if there’s one thing Arnolphe must learn, for better or worse, you just can’t stop young love. 

Molière, a contemporary of another of our playwrights, Jean Racine, performed in this play himself. Dario Fo, another of our playwrights, did the same with most of his works, both writers working with travelling groups of actors who helped them learn and hone their craft. Inspired by the multi-talented work of these great playwrights,  Flywheel has assembled a company of actors and creatives who wear many hats, embracing the sense of community and collaboration that is at the heart of Repertory theatre.

In 1995, under artistic director Stephen Unwin, the English Touring Theatre Company brought their production of Molière’s comedy to Riverside Studios. ETT, founded and run on an ethos of sharing as much work with as many people as possible, are a huge inspiration for the way Flywheel tries to bring the audience into the heart of our work.

REP: RADICAL CLASSICAL

5 ACTORS. 5 PLAYS. 5 WEEKS.

Rep is back. Inspired by traditional companies of the past, Flywheel use one of the most intense formats of theatre-making to celebrate 50 years of the iconic Riverside Studios.

With a season of plays inspired by half a century of past productions, Flywheel breathe new life into classics. Expect a season of comedies and tragedies that reflect today’s world - exploring themes of  judgement, division, and the imbalance of power within family, society, and politics.