The Pickled King is a made-up history play about a king's struggle for justice and freedom from his six-foot jar of vinegar. After a run at the CPT (Camden People's Theatre) in 2002, John Schwab of The Reduced Shakespeare Co invited network of stuff to perform at The Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly. Huge success in the West End catapulted the show on to a national tour, with performances at Riverside Studios and a short run at The Pegasus in Oxford. With packed houses at The Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh 2003, much critical acclaim and sell out shows nationally

The show currently on a UK tour presents a fictitious kingdom, which has gone to wrack and ruin since King Oliver The Presentable pickled himself in vinegar for the good of his health. Three headed cows; upsides down trees and a comet the shape of a potato are the norm in this Kingdom. The Kingdom is in a state! The future lies with a young grave robber called Simon…. if only he could get the blood out from underneath his nails!

The Pickled King has been devised by network of stuff who, since 1998 have produced accessible, theatrically exciting comic plays. Their work is original, exhilarating and energetic. It's Bold with a capital B. The Pickled King is full of wonderful Coups de Theatre! The Pickled King since its inception has evolved to have depth and complexity in its story. This production is darker, funnier and much more gruesome! Vast arrays of characters are played with fluency creating extremely funny but poignant moments with an economy of style that keeps things clear and simple.

Inspired by historical tales of intrigue and network of stuff's sense of the absurd. The Pickled King is a show full of theatrical magic, energetic characterisation and fanciful plot twists. A must see for Christmas as there is not a sprig of holly in sight. The Pickled King is Fringe Theatre at its best!