Cast: Sheena Bhattessa, Helen Bradbury, Craig Conway, Craig Gazey, David Smith, Robert Wilfort, Kaye Wragg, DJ Hamer, Adam Smith, Harris
Director: Max Webster Writer: Alice Nutter Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Duration: 175 mins My Generation is the second of two concurrent plays opening the new season at the West Yorkshire Playhouse this month. Written by Alice Nutter, the show presents four stories about a Leeds family living life on the breadline between 1977 and the present day. The story begins with Cath and Mick living in a squat in Leeds, desperately trying to bring up children in an environment where people are forced out of their jobs whilst lossing their homes. Jumping to 1984, the play traces the effect of the miners’ strikes, before moving on to the rave culture of the early 1990s, reaching a final destination of post-New Labour in 2013. A study of the effects of capitalism and unemployment on three generations, Nutter’s play is a tale of the past, present and uncertain future.
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Cast: Abbi Greenland, Helen Goalen, Benny Brooke, Jonas Aaron, Tom Penn
Director: Kyle Davies Writer: RashDash with Kyle Davies Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Duration: 70 mins Originally developed in 2012 at West Yorkshire Playhouse before premiering in Edinburgh, The Ugly Sisters now returns to Leeds as part of a national tour. Conceived by the innovative RashDash collective, the show is a dark satiric musical retelling the true story of Cinderella and her ugly sisters, with a modern message. Presented in the form of a shabby gig, with amps and instruments scattered around a simple performance space, The Ugly Sisters is a production which recounts the destruction of two girls at the hands of exploitative entertainment. Qualifying for a place in a televised competition to win the heart of the Prince, sisters Emerald and Pearl compete against step-sister ‘Cinderella’ and seem to be on the verge of winning. But what is the ultimate cost of the fortune, fame and prize? Cast: Jessica Hayles, Naveed Khan, Karina Sugden, Gareth Taylor, Anna Tierney, Russell Woodhead
Director: Jack Lowe Writer: Curious Directive Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Duration: 85 minutes After The Rainfall arrives at the West Yorkshire Playhouse this month following a successful run on the Edinburgh Fringe. Following four stories that intertwine over seventy years, the play demonstrates how worlds collide and are inevitably influenced by politics, literature and technology. The narrative follows four definite strands. In 1952 Edward is completing a reconnaissance mission with the help of Ishak, a self-taught pilot, over the Egyptian desert. Meanwhile in 1986, Claire is sculpting in Cumbria and awaiting an offer from University, whilst in 2013 Rashia is on a pilgrimage across Europe. Finally 2022 introduces us to John, who is promoting his popular science book about the society of ants in relation to human behaviour. These disparate stands have little relationship at the beginning of the play, however their threads gradually converge, influencing one another through past and future echoes. Cast: Jason Durr, Andrew Hall, Tanya Franks, Adrian Lukis, Victor McGuire, Andrew Langtree, Kerry Peers.
Director: Nikolai Foster Writer: Mark Catley Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Sherlock Holmes is an icon of literature, instantly recognisable with his deerstalker cap, spyglass and pipe. Accompanied by his faithful assistant Dr. Watson, both characters have appeared in plays, radio shows, films and television series in dozens of languages. This month, the West Yorkshire Playhouse offers its own take on the famous detective, in a new piece of writing from Mark Catley based on the characters originally created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Cast: Lucy Ellinson, Brian Ferguson
Director: Clare Duffy Writer: Clare Duffy Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Duration: 105 minutes Unlimited Theatre brings Money The Game Show to the West Yorkshire Playhouse this April, promising a unique theatrical experience where 10,000 pound coins are up for grabs. The performance begins unconventionally as two hosts, Queenie and Casino, gather ticket holders in the foyer space. Dividing the audience into two competitive parties for independent performances, the evening begins with demonstrations on the value of the subject of the night: Money. After some prep talk and motivational rallying, the divided audience are ready for blood and to do battle in the performance space. Cast: Fisayo Akinade, Rachel Caffrey, Andrew French, Dominic Gately, Becky Hindley, Dwayne Scantlebury.
Director: Gail McIntyre Writer: Benjamin Zephaniah and Lemn Sissay Refugee Boy, Benjamin Zephaniah’s highly acclaimed novel, has been newly adapted for the stage by Lemn Sissay and receives its world premiere at the West Yorkshire Playhouse this month. Cast: Kevin Trainor, Siobhan Redmond, Leah Brotherhead, Esther Ruth Elliott, Christopher Keegan, Gary Lilburn, Ann Louise Ross, Oliver Wilson.
Director: Dominic Hill Writer: Christopher Marlowe and Colin Teevan Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Duration: 130 minutes Start Date: February 23, 2013 End Date: March 16, 2013 The West Yorkshire Playhouse joins forces with Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre to reimagine Christopher Marlowe’s controversial classic, Doctor Faustus. With two acts completely rewritten by Colin Teevan within a contemporary setting, the play brings Faustus’ horrific experiences into the domestic sphere embracing modern language and popular culture, bookended by Marlow’s original opening and closing acts. Doctor Faustus tells the story of an intellectual who is bored with life and signs away his soul in order to enjoy the pleasures of fame, wealth and magic. Faustus’ pleasure comes at a price, however, when Lucifer himself finally calls in the credit and damns him to Hell. Can Faustus reform and escape his contract? Cast: Joe Alessi, Tony Jayawardena, Tom Attwood, Adam Baxter, Amanda Gordon, Tom Jude, Gary Mitchinson, Lauryn Redding, Russell Richardson, Leon Scott, Louise Shuttleworth, Lauren Storer, Jack Whitam, Georgina White
Director: Ian Brown Writer: Kenneth Grahame, Alan Bennett (Adaptation) Theatre: West Yorkshire Playhouse Start Alan Bennett’s critically acclaimed adaptation of The Wind in the Willows takes centre stage as The West Yorkshire Playhouse’s festive treat this season. Based on the children’s novel by Kenneth Grahame, the play follows the adventures of Ratty and Mole as they become embroiled in the hedonistic and chaotic world of Toad of Toad Hall. Cast: Mike Shepherd, Dean Nolan, Kirsty Woodward.
Director: Emma Rice Writer: Emma Rice (Book), Ray Galton and Alan Simpson Running Time: 120 minutes Theatre: The West Yorkshire Playhouse In 1962 Steptoe and Son arrived on television screens and became an institution. Originally featured as a one-off episode in Galton and Simpson’s Comedy Playhouse, several series followed over two decades, spawning movies and worldwide theatrical tours. Fifty years on, Kneehigh have brought a renewed adaptation of Steptoe and Son to the West Yorkshire Playhouse, adapting four classic episodes into a full-length show. |
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