A unique theatre experience is coming to Stoke-on-Trent.
Roundabout, the world’s first pop up, plug in and play theatre, is coming to the City Centre this October.
As part of the city-wide Appetite arts programme, Roundabout will present four acclaimed plays for adults and children between October 15 and October 18.
Roundabout is a real theatre which can be collapsed into a huge flat pack and transported around the UK.
Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe, Roundabout is the creation of Paines Plough, crowned by the critics as “the national theatre of new writing.”
It will pop up in Albion Square to showcase new plays by outstanding writers.
There will be four plays to enjoy with performances between Thursday, October 15 and Sunday, October 18.
Plays include:
Every Brilliant Thing, by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, acclaimed by the Guardian newspaper as “Heart-wrenching, hilarious…possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see.” Performance on Oct 15, 7.30pm.
Our Teacher’s A Troll, by Dennis Kelly, writer of West End hit Matilda the Musical, suitable for children aged 7 and over, and described as “comic perfection” by the Times. Performances: Oct 16 (1pm); Oct 17 (10.30am and 1pm); Oct 18 (1pm).
Lungs, by Duncan Macmillan, a play about a couple deciding whether to have a child which was singled out as “the most beautiful, shattering play of the year” by the Daily Express. Performances: Oct 16 and 17 (7.30pm); Oct 18 (6.30pm and followed by a post-show talk).
The Human Ear, by award winning writer Alexandra Wood, an intriguing thriller and dramatic tale of loss, renewal and knowing who to trust. Performance on Oct 18, at 4.30pm.
Roundabout also features a performance by the Jake Leg Lug Band. A four piece band, Jake Leg Lug are the authentic sound of 1920s and 30s America, featuring jazz, blues, gospel and ragtime, packed into songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption.
Their concert performance on Friday, October 16 at 9.30pm, will be followed by an appearance from social artist and writer Dan Thompson on Saturday 17 October (4:30pm), who will present a reading from All About The Road, his book on London Road, Stoke, written following a 12 month residency in the Potteries.
“We are incredibly excited to have secured four days of enthralling plays and events by Paines Plough,” said Appetite’s Project Director, Karl Greenwood. “Roundabout is a world class theatre experience in a unique, pop up venue and we have worked tremendously hard with our partners, including the Arts Council, the New Vic Theatre, community groups and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to bring it to our city.”
Tickets for each Roundabout event cost £5 (£3.50 concessions).
To find out more and to book tickets online for the Roundabout season please visit http://www.appetitestoke.co.uk/whatson. For group booking discounts (for groups of six or more people) please call 01782 454404.
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Nigel Howle by phone on 0776 2043436 or email [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
Appetite is the Creative People and Places programme taking place in Stoke-on-Trent from 2013 to 2016. Appetite aims to get more people in Stoke-on-Trent to experience and be inspired by the arts. This investment in the arts and cultural sector of the area aims to mobilise and strengthen the skills, knowledge and infrastructure that already exists within the area and provide unprecedented opportunities for more people to see, make and influence more art in the city.
The Appetite programme is funded by Arts Council England and is led by the New Vic Theatre in partnership with B Arts, Brighter Futures, Partners in Creative Learning and Staffordshire University. It is supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Visit the Appetite website at www.appetitestoke.co.uk​