ten plays for today

26 january – 6 february 2010

www.librarytheatre.com Box Offi ce: 0161 236 7110

no wonder | 5:30 | cell | care takers | herons | exit salford | banal encounter marriages made in heaven | can we stop it there? | at the end of the day

The Library Theatre Company’s Re:Play Festival is the great annual celebration of the best theatre seen in smaller venues in Manchester and Salford over the previous year.

This year’s programme is particularly strong on drama, and features four excellent plays from the 24:7 Festival; a bundle of extraordinarily varied short plays (none lasting more than 15 minutes) from JB Shorts; a superb production of Simon Stephens’ Herons; and a passionate piece about homophobic bullying.

There will be the return of two favourites as well; FirstStage, which offers writers, devisers and performers the chance to have their ideas in development tested; and the Re:Play debate, which will examine an important aspect of small-scale theatre in Manchester and Salford.

Our third Re:Play Festival offers a marvellous opportunity to see some exciting productions. Tickets cost £8.50 (£8 concessions); if you see two or more shows, tickets cost just £8 (£7.50 concessions) – don’t miss out.

Chris Honer, Artistic Director, Library Theatre Company

welcomefi rststage 1 February 7.30pm | tickets £3FirstStage offers writers, devisers and performers the chance to have their ideas in development tested in front of fellow theatre professionals – and the general public! FirstStage is curated by

Nicky Hatton and Claire Symonds, who will present a selection of new ideas from nearly 100 ideas submitted.

the re:play debate 6 February 3pm | tickets freeWyllie Longmore chairs this year’s Re:Play debate which puts small-scale theatre in Manchester and Salford under the microscope. The afternoon’s panel will comprise some of the

city’s leading theatre practitioners, all interested parties welcome to attend.

re:play programme

26 January 7pm, no wonder 9pm, 5:30

27 January 7pm, 5:30 9pm, no wonder

28 January 3pm, cell

9pm, 5:30

7pm, no wonder

29 January 7pm care takers 9pm, cell

30 January 3pm and 9pm, care takers 7pm, cell

1 February 7.30pm, fi rststage

2 February 7.30pm, herons

3 February 7.30pm, herons

4 February 3pm, herons9pm, exit salford

7pm, jb shorts bundle

5 February 7pm, exit salford 9pm, jb shorts bundle

6 February 3pm, re:play debate

8pm, exit salford

6pm, jb shorts bundle

special re:play show deal price per ticket per show

one show £8.50 (£8 concessions)

two or more shows £8 (£7.50 concessions)

WT 66520 • Manchester City Council 2009

“ Re:Play is an annual festival that rounds up the best work from Manchester’s smaller stages… the festival indicates that the Manchester fringe is growing at a prodigious rate…” – The Guardian on Re:Play in 2009 www.librarytheatre.com

Box Offi ce: 0161 236 7110

66520 Replay 10 lft_aw.indd 1-3 3/12/09 16:45:33

jb shorts bundle 4 February 7pm, 5 February 9pm, 6 February 6pm

banal encounter by Peter Kerry | directed by Chris BridgmanTwo ordinary commuters on an ordinary railway station in an ordinary town. A story of shared history and betrayal. (Part 1 of the JB shorts bundle)

marriages made in heaven by Dave Simpson | directed by Kay PatrickVictoria is about to get married for the fourth time – even though her three previous husbands have all died in tragic circumstances… (Part 2 of the JB shorts bundle)

can we stop it there? by Trevor Suthers | directed by Brainne EdgeSix characters in search of a play. A chaotic rehearsal in cramped conditions. The questions remains – is this a play, or isn’t it? (Part 3 of the JB shorts bundle)

at the end of the day written and directed by James QuinnA hilarious look at the world of Premier League post-match analysis and tunnel interviews. (Part 4 of the JB shorts bundle)

*JB Shorts contains strong language and adult themes.

“ An evening of funny, gutsy and inventive theatre” – The Independent on JB Shorts

“ Master craftsmen at work… Enormously entertaining and stimulating… A terrifi c evening” – Manchester Evening News on JB Shorts

www.librarytheatre.com Box Offi ce: 0161 236 7110

“ a great chance to catch the best new theatre in the city, a pic‘n’mix of innovative and entertaining productions… not to be missed” – Manchester Confi dential

no wonder by Claire Urwin | presented by Heart Off Guard Theatre Company directed by Guy Jones | 26 and 28 January 7pm, 27 January 9pmA hit at this year’s National Student Drama Festival and 24:7 Festival, this challenging play is a fairytale for people who’ve stopped reading fairytales. There is a wardrobe with no snowy

world to slip into. There is a man who fi nds he can’t fl y. There is a boy who wishes he could, and a woman who watches the washing washing away.

*Contains strong language and some sexual references, suitable for ages 16 upwards.

“ Striking and provocative… Cleverly written and well-acted” **** – Manchester Evening News

care takers by Billy Cowan | presented by Truant Company directed by Billy Cowan | 29 January 7pm, 30 January 3pm, 30 January 9pm A new teacher believes a pupil is being bullied because he’s gay. She wants to help but her Deputy Head thinks it will sort itself out.

Is she speaking from experience or is there something more unsavoury about her unwillingness to help?

*Suitable for ages 15 upwards.

“Tight and powerful… hits home with a punch” ***** – What’s On Stage

5:30 by Alistair McDowall | presented by Cheap Seats directed by Clive Judd | 26 and 28 January 9pm, 27 January 7pmRob wants to be Tim’s friend. He doesn’t care how Tim feels about this. Despite having to resort to vicious insults, intimidation and aggressive force, Rob is sure they’ll be best friends forever.

A compelling and at times terrifying piece set on a train charting the unlikely friendship between two passengers.

“Powerful, graphic and poetic” ***** – Manchester Evening News

herons by Simon Stephens | presented by Falling Leaves Productions directed by Clive Judd | 2 and 3 February 7.30pm, 4 February 3pmDid you ever get a feeling you weren’t allowed to be a child? The effects of a tragic event are unravelled in this disturbing portrayal of modern teenage life, as seen at the National Student

Drama Festival 2009.

“An admirably stark revival” – The Sunday Times

cell By Ailís Ní Ríain | Presented by Zho Visual | directed by Paula Simms 28 January 3pm, 29 January 9pm, 30 January 7pmAn intense, witty and sometimes disturbing look into a day in the life of a bright but damaged young Irishman whose life experiences now see him living as recluse in his parents’ house, with an

imaginary alter-ego questioning his every decision.

*Suitable for ages 16 upwards.

“ Cell could well be a springboard to greater success for those involved” ***** – What’s On Stage

exit salford by Ed Jones | presented by Steele Productions directed by Martha Simon | 4 February 9pm, 5 February 7pm, 6 February 8pm The tale of an unlikely friendship between Luke, an erstwhile TV writer, and a group of youths, who before Luke bought his house in

Salford, viewed its doorstep as their home. Luke soon discovers that in Salford the normal rules of private property don’t apply.

*Contains strong language, suitable for ages 12 upwards.

“An ambitious work with important things to say” **** – Manchester Evening News

66520 Replay 10 lft_aw.indd 4-6 3/12/09 16:45:37