Game of Crones | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | A&E Comedy | UK Tour

Wigs, Wine, and Wisdom: The Creative Secrets of Game of Crones from A&E Comedy

Grab your armour and pour yourself a generous glass of Rioja! Abigail Dooley and Emma Edwards, the brilliant minds behind A&E Comedy, are back with Game of Crones. A reworking of their smash hit Enter the Dragons, this fiercely funny production dives headfirst into the socially invisible, perilous wasteland of the "third age" and turns it into a riotous playground.

This isn't just a play; it's a gloriously unapologetic battle cry. The narrative creates a new fairytale, weaving through the myths and legends of ageing women and tearing them apart to insert the forgotten crone right back into the centre of the story. The duo tackles the realities of ageing, empty nests, and the dreaded hot flushes with razor-sharp wit, magnificent clowning, and an absolute arsenal of ridiculous wigs.

Their performance is wonderfully meta and utterly feral; think The Mighty Boosh, but written by women, so better! Whether they are wrestling with clunky AI projections or donning increasingly absurd costumes and characters, Abigail and Emma aren't afraid to look completely silly because in doing so, they craft incredibly powerful messages.

What makes Game of Crones so special is how it balances absurd, laugh-out-loud physical comedy with a steel-toe-capped feminist kick. Dooley and Edwards create an electric space where the audience transforms from passive viewers into fellow warriors on a ridiculously entertaining quest. It’s liberating, brilliantly performed, and an absolute masterclass in clowning onstage with confidence, joy, and a rebellious spirit.

The Arts Business Top Tips

While A&E Comedy is busy slaying midlife demons, they’re also executing brilliant creative business strategies. Here is what you can steal from their game plan:

·      Fiercely Protect Your Niche: Game of Crones speaks directly and unapologetically to a specific demographic with a specific message. What is the takeaway? Stop watering down your art to please the masses. Make the work you want to see and trust that your audience will find you.

·      Leverage Past Work: By building on and reworking their previous hit, they gave existing fans exactly what they craved. What can you learn from this? If a collection, product, or service works, create a part two. Capitalise on the brand you've already built instead of starting from scratch.

·      Feature Your "Flaws": A&E comedy lean heavily into the "taboos" of ageing and the inequalities of womanhood, making them the star of the show. So, stop hiding what makes your business weird or unconventional. Highlight your quirks in your marketing to stand out in a polished digital world.

·      Build Co-Conspirators: They break the fourth wall constantly to unite the room and make strong statements. Use this idea in your business build a community rather than a customer base. Use behind-the-scenes content and interactive marketing to make your audience feel like part of your creative journey.

·      An Unconventional Duo: Abigail and Emma are a team. They work together at every part of the creative process to make their work shine. And you don’t have to do it alone either. Use your network to find a fellow artist and friend to work with and make your journey a little less lonely.