The Berserker Residents
With a commitment to alternative live comedy, The Berserker Residents is a Philadelphia-based company that generates and produces original theatrical work. Often site-specific and revolutionizing audience performer interaction, the Residents’ work has been showcased throughout Philadelphia – taking audiences to university science lecture halls, fallout shelters, and back alleys, while introducing them to a variety of characters: touchy robots, meticulous cephalopods – you know, whomever’s around.
The Berserker Residents consists of three mighty warriors - long-term collaborators Justin Jain, David Johnson, and Bradley K. Wrenn. As a collective, these three Philly-based artists have spearheaded a comedic theatrical style that blends physical theatre, puppetry, music, sketch, and prop comedy to tell compelling and fantastic stories.
Founded in January 2007, The Berserker Residents originated as an experiment between a group of friends questing for a different theatrical experience. At the start, they began simple: to do comedic work with a linear narrative and a specific focus on horror-theatre. Jain, Johnson, and Wrenn quickly realized a commonality in the experiences they wished to create – and established the Residents as an opportunity to work together artistically. Since then they have created six shows together: The Jersey Devil ('07 & '13), The Giant Squid ('08 & '12), The Annihilation Point ('09 & '10), The Very Merry Xmas Carol Holiday Adventure Show (A 2010 Commission through Theatre Horizon), The Lapsburgh Layoever (A 2011 commission from NYC-based Ars Nova), and The Talkback (2013). To date, that mission has expanded to include cabaret acts (under the alias of “Tempo Dello Spuntino” with collaborator Brendon Gawel), video, and digital media. The Residents have also recently been awarded a year-long company residency Philly-based FringeArts for the 2014 season.
Learn More: http://www.berserkerresidents.com