Box Office (01642) 81 51 81 or 729 729

NEW WritingFESTIVAL

3rd - 8th March 2014

PRODUCTIONS

Four new writers, four new plays and one week to enjoy them all!

- Brand new plays - North East writers

- Week to enjoy them and a great festival that you can be a part of.

As part of a fifth year celebration and a commitment to trying ‘new things’. Less is MORE are over the moon to be helping to further push writers, actors and creatives from all over the North East together to create new and exciting work that keeps Middlesbrough firmly on the map.

POST SHOW TALKS

A chance for the audience to talk to the writers, directors and cast of the shows hand-picked as part of this years New Writing Festival

Wednesday 5th March – Post Show Talk with cast and creative of THAT GAY PLAY and STRING

Saturday 8th March – Post Show Talk with cast and creative of ONE WAY STREET and A SLICE OF LIFE

WRITING WORKSHOPS

Thursday 6th March 10.30amThursday 6th March 2.00pmContact Box office for details

Enjoy!

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PRODUCTIONS

In ProgressWith Ishy DinTuesday 3rd March - 7.00pm

An evening spent with local playwright Ishy Din, following scripts developed from an initial spark, through to the first draft and on to a final duologue, seen for the first time as part of the festival.A chance to chat with the writer and see the process through his eyes as well as having a chance to feed in your thoughts and opinions via the cast and director.

Ishy Din’s first radio play was ‘John Barnes saved my life’ for BBC Radio 5 Live. His play ‘Snookered’ was produced by Tamasha/Old Colliseum/The Bush and toured in 2012 taking in the Traverse Edinburgh and a four week run at the Bush Theatre, London.

Ishy was the 2012 Pearson Writer in Residence at the Manchester Royal Exchange and is also under commission to them. Paul Valley from The Independent wrote his five star review ‘Snookered’ was the most accomplished and assured first play I have seen for years’ and Joyce McMillan for The Scotsman wrote in her four star review that it was 'a powerful and satisfying drama.'

In a 2013 half hour standalone comedy drama ‘Doughnuts’ was broadcast on C4 as part of the 'Coming up' season.”

Box Office (01642) 81 51 81 or 729 729

That Gay Playby David TuffnellTuesday 4th March - 7.00pmWednesday 5th March - 2.00pm & 7.00pm

“Sorry, you were asking what I dreamed love would be like and how meeting the perfect someone would be, right? It’s not like that then, I mean it wasn’t like that...”

Remember your first kiss? That person you fancied at college, the one that broke your heart? Or the one who helped you mend it once more? In a series of interviews we find out the answers to these questions and much more, asking Middlesbrough’s LGBT community what love means to them.

Reviews wrote on David’s first play ‘Miss Crispy 1988’ - “Hilarious and absurd yet utterly realistic, with heaps of North-Eastern charm and peppered with a darkness which rounds the characters”

Box Office (01642) 81 51 81 or 729 729

Stringby Allison DaviesTuesday 4th March - 8.30pmWednesday 5th March - 3.30pm & 8.30pm

“The universe is weird. A lot weirder than you think.”

This is Tio’s story, but parts of it could be yours. An absurd tale of love and loss with a little quantum physics on the side. String shows us that we might just be more connected than we know.

A graduate of Newcastle and Northumbria Universities, Allison has presented scripts at ARC Stockton, Live Theatre, Washington Arts Centre and other venues in the North East.

In 2012 her short play “Toast” won the Short, Sharp Festival of new playwriting. The piece was developed into a full length play, ‘Weather to Fly’, which toured in October 2013 and will be flying again in the North East and beyond in spring 2014.

Box Office (01642) 81 51 81 or 729 729

“The universe is weird, a lot weirder than you think.”

by Allison Daviesstring

One way street

by

"Maybe this street, this town and this world doesn't really exist."

One way streetby Jonny BussellFriday 7th March - 7.00pmSaturday 8th March - 2.00pm & 7.00pm

“Maybe this street, this town, this world doesn’t really exist.”

An absurdist, black comedy about three men on an estate in Stockton who just can’t seem to escape their street. Through the eyes of the stranded men, One Way Street, looks at the consequences of what happens when people are forgotten by their government and society in general.

Jonny graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Philosophy before going on to study Acting at Arts Ed. His first full length play ‘The Centre’ was produced by Vivid Theatre Company at Arc in 2012 and his one act play ‘The Bag’ toured the North East and Scotland with Northumberland Theatre Company last year. His short plays have been performed at Live Theatre, The Cockpit Theatre and Theatre 503.

Box Office (01642) 81 51 81 or 729 729

by Olivia Brady

A slice of lifeby Olivia BradyFriday 7th March - 8.30pmSaturday 8th March - 3.30pm & 8.30pm

“Why do they make nice things so naughty? Technically I skipped breakfast so the chocolate is allowed.”

Have you ever uttered those words “I’ll start again on Monday!?” Well these girls have!

A modern day comedy about the stresses and strains that women go through to lose weight. Follow Michelle, Lynda, Caroline and Susan on their individual journeys revealing the power of friendship and how support can help each other in fighting the fat. Or at least that’s what they want you to think...

Olivia graduated with a BA honours degree in Performance at Northumbria University in 2012. She is very passionate about performing and has been working hard to create new opportunities for herself within the industry. “A Slice of Life” is Olivia’s first play.

Box Office (01642) 81 51 81 or 729 729

NEW WritingFESTIVAL

3rd - 8th March 2014 Box Office 01642 81 51 81 and 729 729

Book Online www.middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk

Mon 3rd March In Progress - 7.00pmTues 4th March That Gay Play - 7.00pm String - 8.30pmWed 5th March That Gay Play - 2.00pm String - 3.30pm

POST SHOW TALk WITH CAST AND CREATIVE OF THAT GAy PLAy AND STRING

Wed 5th March That Gay Play - 7.00pm String - 8.30pm Thurs 6th March Workshop - 10.30am Workshop - 2.00pmFri 7th March One Way Street - 7.00pm A Slice Of Life - 8.30pmSat 8th March One Way Street - 2.00pm A Slice Of Life - 3.30pm

POST SHOW TALk WITH CAST AND CREATIVE OF ONe WAy STReeT AND A SLIce Of LIfe

Sat 8th March One Way Street - 7.00pm A Slice Of Life - 8.30pm

PRICES - ALL SHOWS£5 per student£7 per adult each individual show £25 adult/£20 concessions for week

New Writing Festival artwork designed by Catalyst Design

Tom - 07708213328 Lauren - 07505141163