Written by Victor Hugo. Directed by Peter Josephson.
Set during the shadowy reign of Queen Anne, this gothic horror-romance follows Gwynplaine, the most famous clown in England. His acrobatic talents and broad, omnipresent grin delight peasants and noblemen alike. But this clown can never remove his makeup. His crowd-pleasing grin is a curse, carved into his face when he was a child at the behest of a cruel, vindictive king. When a beautiful duchess attends his show, a secret from Gwynpalin’s past is revealed, a secret that threatens to destroy everything he has built, and everyone he holds dear.
Adapted by the Ensemble from The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo, with inspiration from the 1928 movie The Man Who Laughs, directed by Paul Leni.
World Premiere.
Cast
Wayne Asbury
Ben Bagley
Emily Karel
Katherine Proulx
Creative Team
Director: Peter Josephson
Set Design: Quentin Stockwell
Lighting Design: Tayva Young
Sound Design: Jonny Peiffer
Costume Design: Zhana Morris
Oct. 17 – Nov. 2, 2025
Thursdays at 7pm
Fridays* and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm
*With the exception of Friday, October 31: 9 PM show following the Portsmouth Halloween Parade
Curious about the process? The first Sunday matinee show (October 19) will be followed by an optional talkback with the director and cast!
General Admission: $32
Seniors (65+)/Students/Veterans/First Responders: $29
