OF MICE AND MEN
The Touring Consortium Theatre Company celebrates 20 years with a new tour of John Steinbeck’s classic which comes to Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 March.
Two migrant farm workers held together by a mutual dependence, a deep affection and an undying loyalty go in search of new beginning in the hope of attaining their shared dream: of putting together enough money to buy a small piece of land and building a home. No strangers to trouble, George and Lennie soon find themselves reeling from the fallout of an innocent misunderstanding which spirals out of control and leaves the two men, bound together by friendship, facing an earth-shattering climax. A story, raw in speech and action, full of heart and unflinching realism, it remains one of the most poignant statements of being human our contemporary theatre has produced.
The cast for Of Mice And Men includes Dave Fishley as ‘Crooks’, Nicholas Goode as ‘Whit’, Saoirse-Monica Jackson as ‘Curley’s Wife’ Neil McKinven as ‘Carlson / Boss’, Kristian Phillips as ‘Lennie’, Jonah Russell as ‘Slim’, and William Rodell as ‘George’, Ben Stott as ‘Curley’ and featuring Dudley Sutton as ‘Candy’.
Dudley Sutton is best known for his role in the BBC classic Lovejoy but is also a renowned stage actor who began his career starring in some of the most iconic plays of the sixties, including Jo Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane and Tom Murphy’s A Whistle In The Dark. Over the course of his career he has worked with legendary directors including Federico Fellini, Derek Jarman, Sally Potter and Ken Russell.
Created by producer Jenny King, The Touring Consortium Theatre Company will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2016. Jenny King said, “The company was created in 1996 in response to a need expressed by chief executives of several of the UKs leading touring venues for quality text based drama that reached out to new, young audiences as well as sustaining the interest of core theatre goers. Since its creation we have produced over twenty three productions and played to over a million people, and involved some 25,000 young people in our workshops and creative learning programmes.”
There is a Stage Tour available on Saturday 19 March at 11am. This is a free event but tickets are required as numbers are restricted. Please call the box office on 01325 486555 to reserve a space.
On opening night there will be live music from ‘The Tennessee Three’, re-creating the music of Steinbeck’s era. With a repertoire taken from artists like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Leadbelly and Hank Williams this trio will play the toe tapping and heart wrenching songs that were the soundtrack to America in the 1930s and 40s.
Of Mice And Men is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 March.
Tickets* £17.40 to £27, discounts available. Thursday and Saturday matinees all seats £18.50. Family ticket Saturday 2.30pm £44. Under 16s and schools all seats £11 plus 1 free with every 10 booked.
To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk
*All prices include a £1 restoration levy