Runaway Hit: Wildworks Theatre’s High-Octane Show Inside Cornwall’s Raceway

Wildworks Theatre, the UK’s leading landscape theatre company, is set to dazzle audiences this summer with its latest production, The Kneebone Cadillac, staged at the iconic United Downs Raceway in Cornwall.

The comedy-drama, written by Carl Grose and directed by Kyla Goodey, promises a memorable experience from 4th to 14th July.

Comedy Meets Stock Car Racing

The Kneebone Cadillac unfolds in the heart of Cornwall’s mining country. Wildworks will transform the stock car and banger racing circuit into a theatrical arena for this production, which was a critical success on BBC Radio 4. The play revolves around the Kneebone siblings – Slick, Dwight, and Maddy – who experience a fallout after their father, Jed, leaves his prized Cadillac to Maddy.

Determined to get the Cadillac back on the road, Maddy enters the United Downs Boneshaker stock car race, stirring ancient family feuds and upending the community. The production offers a gritty portrayal of Cornwall, far from its picturesque cliché, and showcases wickedly funny Cornish dialogue.

A Return to Childhood Dreams

For Cornwall-born playwright Carl, staging the drama at United Downs Raceway is a dream come true. Carl, who has fond childhood memories of the raceway, said, “I loved that world – noisy and smelly, with all that grease and burning petrol.”

Carl and Kyla, who first worked together as apprentices with Kneehigh Theatre, are excited to be collaborating again. Kyla is directing a stellar line-up of local talent and working closely with raceway owners to create a dramatic setting. She expressed her enthusiasm for the project, noting, “Comedy is my first love and what Carl has written is bang up to date.”

Engaging Cornwall’s Theatre Lovers

The Kneebone Cadillac is part of We Are Shining, the largest theatre engagement programme in Cornwall, backed by a £995,000 investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme. Wildworks is also launching a new membership programme, Grow Wild, offering exclusive insights, special discounts, and priority booking.

Mydd Pharo, Wildworks’ Artistic Director, highlighted the importance of the new membership programme, stating, “Our hope is for members to become ambassadors, advocating for us online and in public, spreading the word, inviting friends, and seeking ways for Wildworks to flourish.”

Advance tickets for The Kneebone Cadillac will be available to Grow Wild members on 6th May, with general sales opening on 13th May.

For more information on Wildworks go to: www.wildworks.org.uk