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Greenwich Theatre 27 – 30 September, Touring until 27 October.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

3***

Bilimankhwe’s production of The Tempest begins in bold and beautiful style, with Robert Magasa and Joshua Bhima dancing to Ben Mankhamba’s atmospheric music. The music and physical movement was the highlight of the production for me, as this pared down version of Shakespeare’s text lost its impact.

Isolated on his island for years with only his daughter Miranda, spirit Ariel and the monstrous Caliban for company, Prospero dreams of revenge on his enemies. When he finds out that they are sailing close to the island, Prospero conjures up a fierce storm to trap them and, with Ariel’s help, sets his plot in motion. The production keeps the themes of patriarchy, with Prospero engineering his daughter’s marriage, and colonialism, with Prospero enslaving the island’s original inhabitants and acting as their god/king, but the revenge is lost. Prospero’s long speech about his brother’s backstabbing ways is kept in, but we never meet him or his devious courtiers. This makes Prospero’s anger too abstract and a little irrelevant. The only castaways we see are Ferdinand, and then Trinculo and Stephano (slightly too long spent on those “comedy” characters for my taste here) – with Ferdinand and Miranda’s romance and Caliban’s drunken antics with Trinculo and Stephano giving this production the feel, at times, of a rather vindictive episode of Love Island.

The use of Chichewa by Caliban and Ariel adds a magical quality to the characters, as does the splitting of Ariel into two actors. Magasa and Bhima watch with catlike grace as their mischievous actions cause chaos. Cassandra Hercules and Reece Weathers are a whirlwind of hormones as Miranda and Ferdinand – her giggles and gleeful jumps are a joy to watch. Christopher Brand is a strong Prospero, although his journey to redemption is somewhat stifled by the lack of protagonists. In this production, the impression is that finding a husband for his daughter was his main quest.

Bilimankhwe’s The Tempest is more of a gentle summer breeze in its dramatic impact, but is still an enjoyable and energetic production, with wonderful music and choreography.

Little Angel Studios Touring until 4 November.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Monstro Theatre’s puppet musical is a charming and moving celebration of the magic of books and libraries.

Brian’s father read books to him from the time he was a tiny baby. They both loved books so much that the house became filled with them, so they opened their home as a library. Now Brian is grown up and his father is an old man in a nursing home, but their beloved library is still going strong. The books are also very happy, dancing around the library when the humans aren’t about. Everything changes when Brian’s father dies, and Brian’s favourite childhood book comes to the library – setting one of the books on a dangerous adventure across the town.

Each book has its own quirky character and striking retro cover, with writer Ben Glasstone throwing in lots of recognisable stereotypes for the adults. There’s even a Shakespeare tome spouting melancholy quotes! Performers Phil Yarrow, Karina Garnett and Andrea Sadler shine as the librarians and handle the puppets with skill and love, encouraging the young audience to accept the puppets as real characters. When Garnett took her puppet into the audience, the children were desperate to speak to it, although us adults were slightly more bashful. The weird and wacky ideas that the children suggested – at this performance a young boy suggested that she needed to take an aeroplane that would crash into the sea to travel across town – were celebrated and used throughout the performance, with a particularly touching reference at the end of the play. The songs and puppet choreography are harmonised beautifully, and are just the right length to keep the young audience’s interest and maintain the story’s momentum.

The theme of bereavement and loss is handled deftly and sensitively, and the message that reading is a source of inspiration for creating your own stories is delivered with hopeful excitement. Book Story is simply wonderful family entertainment –a spellbinding love letter to literature that will entrance both children and adults.

Tristan Bates Theatre 26 September – 21 October.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Whatever Guise’s inaugural production tackles mental health with an honesty that is both brutal and compassionate.

Corporate lawyer Jen wants to save the world, with dreams of working for the UN, but she has realised that she needs to save herself first, trying to cope with her dark feelings and pain, and settling for a miserable job and even more miserable relationships, much to her childhood friend – socialist, hard-drinking musician Robbie’s disgust. He still dreams of hitting the big time with his music. Jen and Robbie’s annual encounters at Jen’s birthday party frame the narrative, with Jen opening up to Robbie about her depression. Writer Jess Moore’s dialogue is naturalistic and authentic. In the first scene, set in the garden, it feels as if you are listening over the garden fence to two people who think they know each other inside out, but don’t understand each other at all. The circular, meandering conversation veers between teasing childhood memories, lamenting their lost dreams, socialist rants, Jen trying to describe how she feels, and Robbie doing his best comedy to cheer her up without tackling the issue – as best friends do.

Jessica Guise and Tristan Beint are completely believable as the two friends. Watching Guise as Jen pulls herself together and jokes around after sharing her despair will bring a lump to your throat, and her performance in the hospital scene is devastating. Beint is wonderful as Robbie, with some superb drunk acting, spitting out his world-weary rants with relish, and throwing in some hilarious impressions and funny voices. The actors’ onstage chemistry is fantastic, with perfect timing.

Director Ryan Gage keeps things simple, keeping the focus on the actors and allowing them to shine. The set, covered with old photos of the pair behind multiple frames, reinforces the long relationship of the pair, but also highlights our skewed perceptions of friends that we see smiling in all our photos, and perhaps never think about their true feelings. Moore jumps on this issue, with Jen so focussed (and rightly so) on her own search for ways to cope and find happiness, that she doesn’t notice Robbie’s vulnerability. Moore’s writing of Robbie is instantly recognisable to anyone who has reacted with guilty shock as they realise that their funny, sarky, confident and strong friend has been screaming internally or trying to numb their own pain, without anyone noticing until they reach crisis point.

With after show talks from CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), Gin for Breakfast’s examination of friendship and mental health is an emotionally devastating, bittersweet evening that will change (for the better) the way you look at your mates. Grab a ticket while you can

Jack Studio Theatre 26 September – 21 October.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Arrows & Traps new adaptation of Frankenstein breathes new life into the classic story with style and sensitivity. Writer/director Ross McGregor and dramaturg Kate Bannister have steered clear of all clichés and created a fresh, often funny, and insightful vision by interweaving the story of Mary Shelley’s life with her novel.

Beginning with an older Mary returning from a disappointing theatrical production of Frankenstein, Shelley’s life is seen in flashbacks. The circumstances of her own birth and her fractious relationship with her sisters and disapproving father, her love for Shelley and her devastating losses as a mother are all there. This cleverly shows the parallels between Shelley’s life and the characters’ without overstressing the point, and adds a deeper sense of melancholy to the story. The creature’s storyline and Victor Frankenstein’s storyline run alongside Shelley’s. Only Victor’s story runs chronologically, with his youthful scientific zeal galvanising after the death of his mother into the quest for creating life. The creature’s story begins with his meeting with blind Agatha, giving the audience a chance to form an attachment to the innocent and sweet creature that makes the stunning creation scene at the end of act one much more brutal and unnerving.

With most of the cast playing multiple roles, and the switches between storylines and times, this could have been an unmitigated disaster, but the transitions are seamless. The cast, lighting, sound and subtle costume changes make it instantly clear what is going on, and keep the play’s pace from flagging between scenes. Odin Corie gives the characters from the novel a cool steampunk vibe, contrasting with a more romanticised Victorian feel to Mary’s family.

Cornelia Baumann is a safe pair of hands for the pivotal role of Mary Shelley. Her commanding stage presence is needed as she is hardly ever off stage. Her expressions as she watches her creations interact are wonderful. Even when the spotlight isn’t on her, she never gives less than her best. Christopher Tester’s Victor is intense and otherworldly, and Will Pinchin is phenomenal as the creature. As resident movement director with Arrows & Traps, you’d expect an impressive physical performance, but he will blow your mind. Beginning as a mewling, childlike figure, his scenes with Zoe Dales as Agatha are delightful as his speech and personality evolve, and he is terrifying as he becomes a true monster in his revenge. Just glorious.

Whether you have read Frankenstein many times, or a green flat headed monster is all that springs to mind – go and see this production. It will make you fall in love with this phenomenal story all over again.

Casting announced for

The World Premiere of

THE RETREAT

By Sam Bain

Directed by Kathy Burke

 

At Park Theatre

From Thursday 2 November to Saturday 2 December 2017

 

 

Casting is announced today for the World Premiere of new comedy drama The Retreat, the first play by BAFTA award-winning writer Sam Bain, directed by Kathy Burke, which will play at Park Theatre from Thursday 2 November to Saturday 2 December 2017.

 

Adam Deacon will play Tony, Samuel Anderson will play Luke and Yasmine Akram will play Tara.

 

Adam Deacon (Tony) is best known for playing the lead role of Jay in films Kidulthood and Adulthood, and for his directorial debut Anuvahood, in which he also starred, for which he won the BAFTA Rising Star Award. Adam has since appeared in feature films including Bonded by Blood, Jack Falls, Shank, Everywhere and Nowhere and Payback Season, with television work including Babylon (Channel 4), Inside No. 9 (BBC Two) and Being Human (BBC Three). Adam has also worked with mental health charity MIND and recently filmed a documentary with Stephen Fry for the BBC.

 

Samuel Anderson (Luke) is perhaps best known for playing Danny Pink in the eighth series of BBC’s Doctor Who,and Daniel in the Sky1 sitcom Trollied. Other television work includes Ross Kirk in Emmerdale (ITV), Totally Frank(Channel 4), Moving On (BBC One) and Loaded (Channel 4). On stage, Samuel originated the role of Crowther in the National Theatre production of The History Boys, subsequently playing the role on Broadway and all over the world.

 

Yasmine Akram (Tara) has starred as Janine in the hit BBC show Sherlock, Jonesy in Netflix’s Lovesick, and has been a series regular in shows including Stella (Sky1), Undercover (Dave), Asylum (BBC) and Unforgotten (ITV). As a writer, Yasmine co-wrote and starred in two series of Irish Micks and Legends for BBC Radio 4, her film A Date for Mad Mary won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Film in 2017, and she recently completed filming her first short film War Paint, funded by Creative England, in which she also stars.

 

The Retreat follows Luke, a former high-flyer from the City, as he sits in a remote stone hut halfway up a mountain in the Scottish Highlands.  He is on a meditation retreat, searching for the inner peace that so far has eluded him. The trouble is, not only will his mind not settle, but an uninvited guest arrives – his obnoxious older brother Tony. Is Tony everything that’s wrong with Luke’s old life, or is he the only one who can really see into his soul? And is Luke’s quest for spirituality a way of transforming himself, or is it just another form of addiction? The Retreat is a sharp new comedy drama about a world where we can never escape ourselves, or find ourselves either.

The Retreat is written by Sam Bain, who with Jesse Armstrong has co-created and co-written nine series of the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, winning BAFTA, British Comedy, Royal Television Society and Writers Guild of Great Britain Awards. Sam is also co-creator of Channel 4 comedy drama Fresh Meat which ran for four series and won a British Comedy Award. Film writing includes Four Lions, co-written with Chris Morris, which premiered at Sundance and won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. Sam’s first solo series Ill Behaviour premiered on BBC iPlayer this Summer before being broadcast on BBC Two.

 

The Retreat is directed by Kathy Burke, who as an actor is well known for television work including Ab Fab, Harry Enfield and Chums and Gimme Gimme Gimme, for which she won a British Comedy Award. Film work includes Absolutely Fabulous the Movie, Pan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Nil By Mouth, for which she won Best Actress at Cannes. Work as a theatre director includes Betty (Vaudeville Theatre), Kosher Harry (Royal Court), Out in the Openand Born Bad (Hampstead Theatre), Blue/Orange (Sheffield Crucible), The God of Hell (Donmar Warehouse), Smaller (Lyric Theatre) and The Quare Fellow and Once a Catholic (Tricycle Theatre).

The Retreat is written by Sam Bain and directed by Kathy Burke. Set and Costume Design is by Paul Wills with Lighting Design by Paul Keogan and Sound Design by John Leonard. It is produced by Debbie Hicks and Jesse Romain in association with Park Theatre.

 

Twitter: @TheRetreatPlay

Facebook: /TheRetreatPlay

WORLD’S FIRST POP-UP THEATRE TO VISIT DARLINGTON

Darlington’s Market Square will play host to the world’s first pop-up, plug-in and play theatre – the Paines Plough Roundabout, from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 October as part of Darlington Theatre Town.

Paines Plough is the UK’s national theatre of new plays. The company commissions and produces the best playwrights and tours their plays far and wide. Paines Plough was formed in 1974 over a pint of Paines bitter in the Plough pub. Since then they have produced more than 130 new productions by world renowned playwrights like Stephen Jeffreys, Abi Morgan, Sarah Kane and Mike Bartlett.

With a seating capacity of 150 the Roundabout theatre will present a full calendar of events while in Darlington, from children’s theatre and straight plays to music and comedy. Backstage tours and meet the cast events are also available.

Darlington Theatre Town

Darlington Theatre Town is an exciting new initiative to present the most ambitious and high quality theatre in Darlington. The project brings together the expertise of partners Creative Darlington, Darlington Hippodrome, Luxi, Theatre Hullabaloo and ODDMANOUT to cement Darlington’s place in the Tees Valley as a Theatre Town and a place where theatre thrives.

The project, funded by the Arts Council and Darlington Borough Council, grew from the opportunity presented by the redevelopment of the Darlington Hippodrome, the exciting development of Theatre Hullabaloo’s new theatre for young audiences ‘The Hullabaloo’ and the momentum that has built over the last couple of years around theatre in unusual places by events such as the award-winning Jabberwocky Market.

For full details of what is on in the Roundabout visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or to book call the box office on 01325 405405

GRAHAM NORTON

RETURNS TO HOST WEST END BARES 2017

ALONGSIDE HIS STAR CO-HOSTS

ADAM GARCIA,

SUMMER STRALLEN AND DIANNE PILKINGTON,

TOM ALLEN, CELINDE SCHOENMAKER

AND OLIVER SAVILE

AT THE NOVELLO THEATRE

ON SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER AT 7.00PM AND 9.30PM

The Make A Difference Trust is delighted to announce that following two triumphant years, Graham Norton will return as host of this year’s WEST END BARES: RUBY STRIPPERS at the Novello Theatre on Sunday 29 October at 7.00pm and 9.30pm.

The Make A Difference Trust is also thrilled to announce the first of Graham’s star co-hosts;  Adam Garcia (The Exorcist, Murder on the Orient Express [2017], Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Tap Dogs, Saturday Night Fever, Coyote Ugly); Summer Strallen (Young Frankenstein, Love Never Dies, The Sound of Music, Hollyoaks); Dianne Pilkington (Young Frankenstein, Mamma Mia!, Wicked, Taboo); Tom Allen (Live At The Apollo, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Just A Minute); Celinde Schoenmaker (The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables) and Oliver Savile (Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!).More celebrity guest hosts and West End stars to be announced soon.

They will join the previously announced Olivier Award winning Rebecca Trehearn (Showboat, City of Angels, Ghost), who will open the show with a performance of an exclusive track especially written for the occasion byMark Anderson (The Book Of Mormon, Legally Blonde) and Luke di Somma (That Bloody Woman [composer], 21 Chump Street).

Join the much-loved characters of Oz for an extraordinary night at WEST END BARES: RUBY STRIPPERS, which will see over 100 of the hottest performers from the West End stage take to the stage to combine the naughtiness of burlesque with the magic of the West End. All of the money raised will go to The Make A Difference Trust to fund HIV and AIDS projects that raise awareness, educate and provide care and support in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Click here for a look behind the scenes of the WEST END BARES: RUBY STRIPPERS photo shoothttps://youtu.be/4XYiliFar0o

Directed by David Grewcock with choreography from Fletcher Dobinson (Cats; West Side Story),  Jaye Elster(Singin’ In The Rain; Half A Sixpence),  Matt Gillett (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Singin’ In The Rain; Jersey Boys; Top Hat), Tom Jackson Greaves (Nutcracker, Early Adventures and Sleeping Beauty with New Adventures; Secret Cinema; Kneehigh Theatre), Ashley Jordan-Packer (Cats; Thriller Live), Will Lucas (Cats; Wicked),Simone Mistry-Palmer (Motown; Dirty Dancing), Ashley Nottingham (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Dance Mums; Disaster!), Racky Plews (American Idiot; Footloose; Heaven on Earth), Aaron Renfree (X Factor; The Saturdays), Chris Whittaker (Blondel; Judy!),  and James Wilson (Strictly Come Dancing; The Voice).

The Make A Difference Trust is a UK based charity with a vision of a world free from HIV and AIDS. Building on the legacy of 25 years of fundraising by the Theatre industry, they continue to make the vision a reality having distributed over £1.6million in grants to support individuals experiencing hardship across the UK as well as over £1million to support projects with their UK and international partners. For further information about the Make A Difference Trust please visit  www.madtrust.org.uk

Tickets for WEST END BARES are now on sale and are priced at £15 – £100.

Tickets are available from www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk or the DMT WEST END BARES booking line 0844 482 5172 and in person at the Novello Theatre Box Office. Booking fees apply and calls to Delfont Mackintosh Theatres 0844 numbers cost 7 pence per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

WEST END BARES are proud to be partnering with 100 Wardour St for this year’s exclusive After Party where you can continue to celebrate with the cast of the show. Tickets cost £10 and are only available when you buy a ticket for the 7pm or 9.30pm show.  Once again, there is limited availability for the After Party and when the tickets are gone, they’re gone – so don’t miss out! 100 Wardour St is split between a laid-back Bar & Lounge and chic Restaurant & Club, offering great food from midday right through until 2am with classic and contemporary cocktails. As befits the venues history as the site of London’s iconic Marquee Club where artists like David Bowie and The Rolling Stones performed, there are DJ’s and live music five nights a week.

 

Please note: All artists appear subject to availability.

A PASSIONATE TRIBUTE TO A TRUE LEEDS LEGEND

 

When two of Leeds’ greatest dance companies come together next week, the West Yorkshire Playhouse stage is set to be alight with a passion and energy that this city’s dance scene has become renowned for – thanks to one woman.

Nadine Senior MBE was deputy headmistress of Harehills Middle School when she began introducing the students to dance. Her revolutionary approach harnessed the children’s natural ability and recognised their talents in movement.

Three young men in particular would have their passion for dance ignited and go on to form Phoenix Dance Theatre in 1981 – David Hamilton, founding Artistic Director, Donald Edwards and Vilmore James.

Sharon Watson, Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director acknowledges Nadine’s crucial role in her own career ‘Like so many others, I would not be doing what I do today if it wasn’t for the inspiring leadership Nadine gave. I’m delighted that we can pay tribute to such a motivating and influential woman with an evening of amazing dance talent, all of whom she inspired.’

 

Nadine lobbied to prove the need for professional dance education in Leeds and in 1985 founded Northern School of Contemporary Dance; it remains the only provider of conservatoire-level professional training in contemporary dance outside of London.

 

Janet Smith MBE, Principal of Northern School of Contemporary Dance said ‘I am delighted that Northern School of Contemporary Dance is collaborating with dance partners across the city and artists from the UK, Europe and the US in celebrating the visionary leadership of our founding Principal, Nadine Senior, and the continually resounding impact of her work. This will be a very special event for us in paying tribute to an extraordinary woman who championed the value of arts education from a young age in achieving the highest aspirations for all.’

 

Nadine Senior died in January 2016 but on Sunday October 8^th Phoenix Dance Theatre and Northern School of Contemporary Dance will together lead a tribute to her life and her loves.

 

The Gala will include performances from Leeds-born, New York-based Darshan Singh-Bhuller who in a recent interview with Broadway World said of Nadine:

“Her main thing was to get boys to dance somehow. I was the captain of the football team, so she got me involved, and the rest of the kids followed. The area was predominantly Indian, West Indian, Chinese – some white working class people. It was rare that anybody was teaching any kind of art form in a state run school. We were lucky.”

 

With live music, film, poetry, and guest speakers the life and work of this extraordinary woman will be honoured in style.

 

The Celebration Gala for Nadine Senior is at West Yorkshire Playhouse on Sunday 8 October at 7pm

Tickets are priced from £15

Book online at wyp.org.uk or call the Box Office on 0113 213 7700

Lyric Theatre, The Lowry, Manchester – September 28th 2017.  Reviewed by Julie Noller

5*****

I knew before the nights performance that Rambert Ghost Dance choreographed by Christopher Bruce is quite possibly the most popular work in their history. One look around the waiting group of expectant young faces waiting to take up their seats, told me that there was more than one dance group/drama group in attendance. The actual performance would be split into three separate acts with two twenty minute intervals.

Transfigured Night is based upon a 19th century poem written by Richard Dehmel ‘Verklarte Nacht’ . During the interval I along with many people around me, asked Google for help on that poem; just to see how my interpretation was. We begin once the curtain rises in the pitch black, slowly the light increases almost as if the sun is rising. Slowly as our eyes become accomstomed to the light we see a group of dancers slowly swaying and gaining momentum like the trees of a forrest. Finally we see a figure on the ground dressed in orange, as she rises searching for her partner, it’s as if a conflict is occuring as they push and pull each other. Then finally after her begging he leaves, watching the main group of dancers swirling as if a group of starlings are putting on a spectacular show. Enter a younger girl dressed in yellow, perhaps in the spring of youth as oppossed to the summer nearing autumn of life. This dance reminded me of those young school gym classes, where the teacher would cry ‘freestyle, show me a story’ however this was far superior, it was strong and powerful. It was choreographed by Kim Brandstrup with music that calmed you yet reminded you of an old black and white silent movie, no words ere necessary. Finally youth drifts away back to reality and we see perhaps our older couple have reconciled and life goes on.

Symbiosis

Is strong and powerful, full of wow moments. It draws your eye, it’s confusing in a way that life is confusing. It moves with fast pace, and is brilliantly choreographed by Andronis Foniadakis. Curtain up reveals a plain bare and empty stage except for one large screen, it has an almost 3D effect bulge and is used to change direction, inflict even more pace and energy into the performance, with colour in an otherwise blank canvas. I don’t know if I’m looking at a busy street in a hectic city during a rain storm or watching a discovery channel documentary, could it be a seed growing in fast time. Could there be basic lifeforms developing and being interpreted before my eyes? The dancers are amazing with muscular movements showing how we each collide and move on yet with such grace. Of course as with any performance you can choose to try to interpret what you are watching; or you could just sit back and enjoy a great show, full of grace and emotion. Not to mention pure talent.

Ghost Dance

Well curtain up led to some gasps and the odd cry of ‘I’m going to have nightmares’ from the young ladies sat around us. We were confronted with three figures from The day of the dead celebrations. Ghost Dance takes its influence from latin America, where the living are encouraged to celebrate life and remember the dead as still living amongst them. The costumes are magnificent, showing those perfectly ripped bodies, make up and masks were amazing. The dance is pure celebration as dead and living collide and grief takes hold, theres suffering in human misery. It was wonderful to witness the whole stage utilised with grace and energy. Music arranged by Nicholas Mojsiejenko was haunting and yet upbeat, lifted by the soulful music of panpipes. I could’ve watched Ghost Dance where power of the inevitable clashes with the emotional energy of wanting to live for a whole hour, it took my breath away. No wonder it’s the most requested work from Ramberts back catalogue and has been hugely popular since first choreographed by Christoper Bruce in 1981.

Well to be honest all the performances took my breath away, I’m always in awe of skill, energy, power and the knowledge that those young ladies watching could be heading home to practice and one day be right up there on that stage taking the lead roles. Each performer should leave the stage knowing not only have they entertained but they have inspired not only those young ladies but equally this slightly older lady and her Sister. The appreciation of every member of the audience not to mention the enthusiasm of those young ladies was uplifting and the standing ovation was more than well deserved for three fantastic, emotive, heart moving performances.

A professional world premiere from Bruntwood Prize Winner, Anna Jordan. MAP Rep’s first full show proves that Manchester Actors’ Platform and 53two are continuing to tackle the bigger subjects and create innovative and groundbreaking theatre.

What has been seen cannot be unseen. Six eyewitnesses to a gruesome terrorist attack in broad daylight. Their lives are changed irrevocably, but how? Rita cannot hold her son. Tony does jigsaw puzzles and counts his wife’s breaths. Elliot must face up to who he really is. Farrah is forced to reconnect with a past long forgotten. Annie starts to feel again. And Stefan feels nothing.

‘Stay Happy Keep Smiling’ is a fictionalised exploration of the lives of ordinary people following an extraordinary event. Jordan’s writing is punchy and intensely truthful, asking difficult questions on how we deal with an all too common occurrence in the 21st century world: terrorism: It’s aftermath, what effects it has and the ripples beyond the event into our own worlds.

A production brought to you by newly formed MAP Repertory company.

Running 17-21 October

7:30pm

Tix: £7 online/£8 door www.53two.com/stayhappy