Our annual re:play Festival is back for another year, once again in The Lowry Studio, as we pick a selection of work from the Manchester and Salford fringe theatre scene from the last twelve months.
The festival has grown from strength to strength over the last few years and is an indication of how much the fringe theatre scene has developed in Manchester and Salford. The range of work has widened so that this year we’re presenting a diverse selection from surreal and anarchic sketch comedy (All Our Friends Are Dead) to a drama about a gay male escort (Away From Home), from a brand new adaptation of an Anthony Burgess novel (One Hand Clapping) to a brilliant family show for audiences of 3+ (Billy, the Monster and ME!).
Other work includes Stella Grundy’s one woman show about a MADchester icon (The Rise and Fall of a Northern Star) presented in the Lyric Orchestra Basement Changing Rooms, a powerful piece of physical theatre by Steven Berkoff (Lunch), a thriller that takes influence from 1950s film noir and George Orwell (The Man Who Woke Up Dead) and a verbatim piece about asylum (To Walk In Your Shoes).
We’re also running three other events as part of the festival. NewScript Night is a script in hand presentation of four brand new plays by four writers and four directors developed in the first week of the festival. Talking Shop is a chance to get involved in an afternoon of open space discussion about our local theatre scene and Pitch Party also returns as a group of brave creatives pitch ideas for a new work in front of an audience and group of industry professionals. Pitch Party will be followed by a sharing of work, Handles, from last year’s winner Tom Mason.
There’s also a great ticket deal – see any show in the festival and see another for half price (plus entrance for NewScript night for only £2!).
re:play Festival 2014 runs from Mon 20 Jan – Sat 1 Feb 2014. You can book tickets online here or from The Lowry Box Office on 0843 208 6010.