Put your questions to Olivier Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens in a Google Hangout – a live video chat broadcast on this webpage, our YouTube channel and Google+ page.
The most prolific British playwright of his generation, Simon’s passionate plays have been produced extensively in the UK, Europe and America, meeting with critical acclaim and winning numerous awards.
Simon now joins us as we stage the world premiere of The Funfair – his brand new adaptation of Ödön von Horváth’s 20th century masterpiece Kasimir and Karoline – which sets two young lovers in the throes of a break up, against the hypnotic whirl of a funfair.
Dark, political and very funny, the adaptation transports the play to a contemporary landscape, where a roar of defiance stands against a backdrop of a looming economic crisis.
Speaking about Horváth’s play, Simon said: “It’s an extraordinarily savage and extraordinarily human exploration of the lives of the working-class people of Munich. But it’s my theory that actually, this is Manchester’s great undiscovered play. It’s so Mancunian in its spirit.”
During the Hangout, Simon will talk more about The Funfair, tell us what inspired him to become a writer, and give his take on the theatre scene in the North. He’ll also discuss his own writing process and offer advice to anyone interested in playwriting.
To watch the Hangout, tune into the video below or visit our YouTube channel or Google+ page when the broadcast begins at 13:00 on Thu 21 May.
You can put your questions to Simon live or submit them before the event. Click on ‘add comment’ below to post your questions to this page, or tweet @HOME_mcr using the hashtag #AskSimon.
The Funfair runs from Thu 14 May to Sat 13 Jun. Book tickets and find out more here.