Beowulf

adapted by Charlie Bethel
performed by John Heimbuch
directed by Amy Rummenie
dramaturgy by Sarah Heller

“Listen up. Long ago, when we still asked,
Then we heard tell of heroes, ancient kings,
Of their courageous acts and of the fame
They carved for each himself with swinging sword…”

John Heimbuch performs Charlie Bethel’s tour-de-force adaptation of Beowulf, the classic Old English poem about a warrior king and three famous monsters.

This fierce one-person telling modernizes the wit, vigor, and meaty language of the original Anglo-Saxon epic, making the oldest tale in the English language into a relatable high fantasy adventure.

60 minutes, no intermission.

Warning: Beowulf contains descriptions of fantasy violence akin to The Lord of the Rings. It is intended for adults, but may be appropriate for mythology-loving youths.

PRAISE FOR BEOWULF:

GOLDEN LANYARD AWARD, 2019 Minnesota Fringe Festival
GOLD MEDAL, The TVolution, 2022 Hollywood Fringe

“Just one man, no set, no costume but a hell of a wonderful performance.” - Ernest Kearney, theTVolution.com, 2022

“Heimbuch tells this story in a crisp and compelling way, using his strong voice and confident stage presence to keep the audience enthralled.  He also spices his delivery with witty asides and sly looks that not only change the narrative pace but give the show a welcome intimacy. You’re no longer watching an actor perform but being entertained by a friend. - Willard Manus, Total Theater, Los Angeles, 2022

“Heimbuch holds the audience captivated for what feels like it could not have been 60 minutes but was … Filled with action, horror, and a very modern dash of humor, it’s the only way to experience Beowulf if you want it to come alive for you ... It’s a thrilling tale and Heimbuch has a gift for oral storytelling that conveys that excitement to the audience.” - The Stages of MN, 2024

“Heimbuch was the poet narrator, pulling us into a strange, ancient world of beasts and blood and bravery… He postured, he roared, he fought epic battles. He made us shiver and laugh. It was an hour of powerful theater. Some parts sounded as if they could have been written today, which is true of all great stories.” - Pamela Espeland, MinnPost, 2020

Gilgamesh

adapted by Charlie Bethel
performed by John Heimbuch
directed by Amy Rummenie

“Gilgamesh will discover the gods’ Big Secret,
And he will swim into the great abyss,
And he will know a horrifying truth.
I think you know it too.”

Charlie Bethel’s one person version of Gilgamesh brings forth the friendship, adventure, and thoughtfulness of this ancient Sumerian epic, through his friendship with the hairy wild-man Enkidu, the battle with the Bull of Heaven, the Tale of the Great Flood, and the quest for immortality!

50 minutes, no intermission.

Warning: Gilgamesh contains descriptions of sacred sexuality and fantasy violence, and is recommended for audiences age 13+.

PRAISE FOR GILGAMESH:

"Gilgamesh is a fresh, vibrant retelling of the ancient Sumerian story, which wrestles with themes of sex, religion, friendship, honor, death, and immortality... I can guarantee a funny, energetic, and thought-provoking interpretation of the two classic tales." - Holly Peterson, Lavender Magazine, 2023

2025 TOUR ITINERARY:

September 9, 2025: Coon Rapids, MN
BEOWULF at Anoka Ramsey Community College

September 17, 2025: Whitewater, WI
BEOWULF at The Young Performing Arts Center, UWW

September 18, 2025: Whitewater, WI
GILGAMESH at The Young Performing Arts Center, UWW

September 22 - 23, 2025: Philadelphia, PA
BEOWULF at Glen Foerd / Philly Fringe

September 25 - 28, 2025: Philadelphia, PA
GILGAMESH at Quig’s Pub in Plays & Players / Philly Fringe

September 30, 2025: South Hadley, MA
BEOWULF at Mount Holyoke College

October 2, 2025: Manchester, NH
BEOWULF at St. Anselm College

October 12, 2025: New York, NY
BEOWULF at Jefferson Market Library, NYPL

October 15, 2025: Medford, MA
BEOWULF at Jamberry House

Performance History

Brewery Nønic, Wisconsin (Beowulf & Gilgamesh, Aug 2025)
Smoke House Stage, St Paul (Gilgamesh, w/pianist Jake Endres, Aug 2025)
Pillars of Prospect Park (Beowulf, July 2025)
CONvergence 2025 (The Odyssey, July 2025)
The Count’s Den, Los Angeles (Beowulf, March 2025)
University of California, Santa Barbara (Gilgamesh, March 2025)
Walker Place Community (Beowulf, Jan 2025)
Glitterbox Theatre (Beowulf, Oct 2024)
Hamilton College (Beowulf, Oct 2024)
Syracuse University (Beowulf, Oct 2024)
Chenango River Theatre (Beowulf & Gilgamesh, Oct 2024)
Colby College (Gilgamesh, Oct 2024)
Philly Fringe / Quig’s Pub at Plays & Players (Beowulf, Sept 2024)
Bryn Mawr College (Gilgamesh, Sept 2024)
Brewery Nønic, Wisconsin (Beowulf & Gilgamesh, Aug 2024)
Smoke House Stage, St Paul (Beowulf, w/pianist Jake Endres, Aug 2024)
Washington Square Park, NYC (Beowulf, July 2024)
Firefly Regional Burn, VT (Gilgamesh, July 2024)
Black Forest Inn / Walking Shadow (Beowulf, March 2024)
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Gilgamesh, Nov 2023)
University of Wisconsin, River Falls (Gilgamesh, Nov 2023)
Providence College (Gilgamesh, Oct 2023)
FoxHouse Productions (Beowulf, Oct 2023)
Minnesota State University, Mankato (Beowulf, Oct 2023)
MN Poets at Squirrel Haus Arts (Beowulf, Oct 2023)
Nautilus Music Theatre (Gilgamesh w/pianist George Maurer, Oct 2023)
The Rosette @ Austin Classical Guitar (Beowulf, Sept 2023)
Fantastic Fest (Beowulf, Sept 2023)
University of Texas Austin (Beowulf, Sept 2023)
Texas State, San Marcos (Beowulf, Sept 2023)
Minnesota Fringe Festival (Gilgamesh, Aug 2023)
Chenango River Theatre (Beowulf, July 2023)
Providence Fringe Festival (Gilgamesh, July 2023)
Brewery Nønic, Wisconsin (Beowulf & Gilgamesh, June 2023)
The Rosette @ Austin Classical Guitar (Beowulf, March 2023)
University of Texas Austin (Beowulf, March 2023)
Black Forest Inn / Walking Shadow (Beowulf, March 2023)
Rabbit Hole Artspace, Boston (Gilgamesh, Nov 2022)
University of Minnesota (Gilgamesh, Sept 2022)
Iowa City Festival of Books / James Theater (Beowulf, Oct 2022)
Providence Fringe Festival (Beowulf, July 2022)
Rabbit Hole Artspace, Boston (Beowulf, July 2022)
Brewery Nønic, Wisconsin (Beowulf & Gilgamesh, July 2022)
Hollywood Fringe Festival (Beowulf, June 2022) - Gold Medal Award, theTVolution
Woodlake Nature Center / Walking Shadow (Beowulf & Gilgamesh, Oct 2021)
CONvergence 2021 (Beowulf & Gilgamesh, Aug 2021)
Brewery Nønic, Wisconsin (Beowulf, July 2021)
Upper Midwest Backyard Tour (Beowulf, Sept-Dec, 2020)
Washington County (MN) Library SmARTpass (Beowulf, Oct 2020) - digital theatre
Anoka County (MN) Library SmARTpass (Beowulf, Sept 2020) - digital theatre
Walking Shadow Theatre Company (Beowulf, March/April 2020) - digital theatre
Minnesota Fringe Festival (Beowulf, Aug 2019) - Golden Lanyard Staff Pick Award
CONvergence 2019 (Beowulf, July 2019)
Plus numerous school, bar, backyard, house, and park performances around the United States.

Book a private show!

These one-person shows have a flexible storytelling style that can easily be adapted to a wide variety of conditions, making them an ideal fit for backyard parties, fireside tellings, and intimate gatherings.

Rates vary depending on performance conditions and audience size.

For availability and booking information, please fill out this form and I’ll get back to you soon!