Tonight the Theatre Royal plays host to the intriguingly titled In Doggerland. On first glance this appears a fairly salacious production, more at home on late night Channel 5 than the Studio stage.
However, whilst it does warn off the faint hearted with the promise of bad language, this show actually concerns the eternal human struggle to move forward under the weight of past trauma.
The travelling play, from Manchester based production company, Box Of Tricks also explores the themes of organ donation and transplantation; loss and grief; family and home, ultimately examining what makes up the essence of an individual.
In Doggerland comes from Tom Morton-Smith, an award-winning playwright who is currently under commission with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The production is directed by Box of Tricks’ Joint Artistic Director and co-founder Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder.
Hannah said, “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work on such a well-crafted and emotionally truthful play and collaborate with such a talented playwright.
“Tom has a unique writing style, combining big questions with the minutiae of everyday life, creating a heightened reality that allows the audience to examine their own lives while watching those of the characters unfold on stage.”
The play will feature the award-winning actress Natalie Grady in the role of Kelly. Last year Natalie won Best Supporting actress at the Manchester Theatre Awards for her role as Minnie Gascoigne in The Daughter in Law . Her other credits include the Olivier award-winning National Theatre production of Rafta Rafta, directed by Nicolas Hytner.
She will be joined by Clive Moore (formerly Father O’Farrell in Brookside) as Simon.
It will stay just one night at the Theatre Royal so if you want to be In Doggerland, you better set off soon.
- In Doggerland will be at the York Theatre Royal Studio November 20
- Tickets priced £12 or £8 for students and under 25s
- For more information see the Theatre Royal website