Being Mancunian has always been a huge part of Monkeywood’s identity. Now they are trying to find out what that means…
Monkeywood have commissioned 19 astounding Mancunian writers to write 19 tiny but titanic new plays exploring Manchester and its people. The plays take us from Moss Side to Middleton, Flixton to Failsworth, Droylsden to Didsbury and ask, when we push the clichés aside, what does it really mean to be part of this city?
The award-winning Monkeywood Theatre brings this tapestry of Manchester and Mancunians to HOME as part of PUSH 2018. Watch out for pop up performances of individual plays before every Theatre 2 performance.
“Across 19 micro-plays crammed into a fast-moving hour, writers from the city offer snapshots of Manchester’s varied neighbourhoods… Martin Gibbons’ production is spare and simple, wisely letting the words paint the locations.” – The Guardian
★★★★ “At the end I came away with a layered set of impressions that left me entertained, moved, and pleased that I belong to this community… A pleasurable and fast 50 minutes” – Northern Soul
“Director Martin Gibbons’s simple but effective staging brings together a smorgasbord of different styles, voices and characters from around the county… While the one-off performances were great, it really works well to bring them all together like this. Gibbons has done a great job in ensuring variety of style and pace, mixing serious pieces with humour.” – British Theatre Guide
★★★★ “I loved it… This isn’t just a show about the people that have written it, it is about you and me. And that my dear reader is something to cheer in this the dullest of months… This deserves a week long residency rather than its extremely short run.” – Caught in the Act
“The Manchester Project feels like labour of love – a warm tribute to the city and those who live and work there and in the surrounding area.” – Manchester Theatre Awards
“A heartfelt and funny look at Manchester’s ever-changing landscape of footie, music, marvellous Mancs, and newcomers to the city… It speaks volumes that you want to hear more than these maverick Manc voices because each piece has a quiet intensity due to the wonderful writing and terrific turns.” – I Love Manchester
“The Manchester Project is glorious. It is a five-star theatrical TripAdvisor for Manchester. Like the honey from a bee it is a sticky, messy, sweet and golden stream that glues us together as Mancunians.” – Live Art Alive
“The shorts are performed wonderfully by Curtis Cole, Reuben Johnson, Sarah McDonald Hughes, James Quinn, Meriel Schofield and Eve Steele.” – The Northern Quota
“Manchester-based, Manchester-proud Monkeywood Theatre’s theatrical ode to their city… an interesting and quirky idea.” – The Manchester Salon
“The Manchester Project feels honest and authentic… Thoroughly engaging and entertaining… A terrific and fitting start to the PUSH Festival’s celebration of home-grown artists.” – Unrestricted Views
The Plays:
LITTLE HULTON by Reuben Johnson
LEVENSHULME by Gareth George
PRESTWICH by Becky Prestwich
TIMPERLEY by Andrew Sheridan
RUSHOLME by Victoria Brazier
DROYLSDEN by Rebekah Harrison
OLD TRAFFORD by Furquan Akhtar
BURNAGE by Francesca Waite
MIDDLETON by Chris Hoyle
DIDSBURY by Anna McDonald Hughes
DENTON by Samantha Siddall
CHORLTON by Becky Garrod
WITHINGTON by James Quinn
HARPURHEY by Ian Kershaw
CORNBROOK by Lindsay Williams
FAILSWORTH by Cathy Crabb
MOSS SIDE by Curtis Cole
FLIXTON by Sarah McDonald Hughes
CITY CENTRE by Eve Steele
Want to know more about Monkeywood Theatre?
- Follow @monkeywood on Twitter
- Visit Monkeywood Theatre’s website