A little more information, and some reviews for previous productions of 'The Bench', courtesy of Salford Arts Theatre's press office:
PRESS RELEASE
PRODUCTION: THE BENCH
SALFORD ARTS THEATRE,
Kemsing Walk, off Liverpool St., Salford M5 4BS
28th, 29th 30th April & 1st May, 2010 @ 7.30pm
Tickets £7/£6 cons
Bookings: 0161 925 0111
Email: info@salfordartstheatre.co.uk
After successful runs at Studio Salford,
The Lowry, and The Library Theatre,
Joe O’Byrne’s hit play The Bench comes to SALFORD ARTS THEATRE.
The Bench A comedy of love, life and loss.
Over a period of 12 months, the lives of an eclectic group of Paradise Heights residents intersect around a bench in the local park. Many of the characters find themselves at transitional points in their lives, and whilst some are desperately holding on to the past, others are even more desperate to escape it and the unbearable pain that has made them who they are. It’s just a bench in the park, the one by the war memorial…A thief, a fake medium, a homeless man, an artist, a widow, a dealer, a loan shark, an angel and a ghost. They’ve all sat on this bench at least once this year.
Before the end of the year, someone will die on it…
Paradise Heights is a fictional North West council estate created by writer/director/actor Joe O’Byrne’s and is the backdrop for most of his writing/directing, The Bench is one of the tales to come from the community. Other stories in the series include the plays I’m Frank Morgan and Rank, and the feature film Lookin’ For Lucky. All the plays have received rave reviews and Lookin’ For Lucky has recently signed its first international film distribution deal.
‘Although The Bench is billed as a comedy, we do tackle some serious topical issues’ says Joe. ‘Homelessness, abuse, addiction and enormous personal grief are some of the problems the characters are wrestling with. However the play is shot through with a rich vein of humour played out by a very talented cast.’ A cast that features Stella Grundy (who featured heavily in Madchester’s music scene with her band Intastella, a talented writer and director, her latest play Nico Icon returned to The Lowry last year), Clyve Bonelle (Lookin’ For Lucky, Rank, Bubbysaurus, Shameless), Phoebe Marie Jones (Rank, Twelfth Night, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Duchess of Malfii), Ian Curley (Rank, Lookin’ For Lucky, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, A Game Of Two Halves) Ste Myott (Lookin’ For Lucky, Rank, Life On Mars, The Laramie Project) and Aaron Rochford, (Rank, Moody Money, Broken Britain, Perfect To Begin). Between them the cast play 18 characters in the play. Strong adult content.
.
REVIEWS:
Highly recommended and a play, and writer, which will surely go on to great things.
Kevin Bourke, Manchester Evening News
The Bench is not for the squeamish. It has strong language, and touches on addiction, grief, homelessness and abuse; but it is absolutely an authentic play of today, and has a distinctive voice that speaks with great humanity.
Chris Honer, Artistic Director, The Library Theatre, Manchester.
Loved it! Wonderful gags out of left field, intrigue, suspense, heart-rending scenes and heart-warming moments. A great night of theatre! Do more!
David Slack, Director, 24/7 Theatre Arts Network
Surely you couldn't have missed it? Well, if you did, you missed out big time. Joe O'Byrne's The Bench was a brilliant piece that will hopefully go on to bigger things. Mike Heath, Director, Studio Salford
The Bench is yet another excellent example of high quality fringe theatre and it thoroughly deserves its excellent reputation. Dave Cunningham, whatsonstage.com
PRESS RELEASE
PRODUCTION: THE BENCH
SALFORD ARTS THEATRE,
Kemsing Walk, off Liverpool St., Salford M5 4BS
28th, 29th 30th April & 1st May, 2010 @ 7.30pm
Tickets £7/£6 cons
Bookings: 0161 925 0111
Email: info@salfordartstheatre.co.uk
After successful runs at Studio Salford,
The Lowry, and The Library Theatre,
Joe O’Byrne’s hit play The Bench comes to SALFORD ARTS THEATRE.
The Bench A comedy of love, life and loss.
Over a period of 12 months, the lives of an eclectic group of Paradise Heights residents intersect around a bench in the local park. Many of the characters find themselves at transitional points in their lives, and whilst some are desperately holding on to the past, others are even more desperate to escape it and the unbearable pain that has made them who they are. It’s just a bench in the park, the one by the war memorial…A thief, a fake medium, a homeless man, an artist, a widow, a dealer, a loan shark, an angel and a ghost. They’ve all sat on this bench at least once this year.
Before the end of the year, someone will die on it…
Paradise Heights is a fictional North West council estate created by writer/director/actor Joe O’Byrne’s and is the backdrop for most of his writing/directing, The Bench is one of the tales to come from the community. Other stories in the series include the plays I’m Frank Morgan and Rank, and the feature film Lookin’ For Lucky. All the plays have received rave reviews and Lookin’ For Lucky has recently signed its first international film distribution deal.
‘Although The Bench is billed as a comedy, we do tackle some serious topical issues’ says Joe. ‘Homelessness, abuse, addiction and enormous personal grief are some of the problems the characters are wrestling with. However the play is shot through with a rich vein of humour played out by a very talented cast.’ A cast that features Stella Grundy (who featured heavily in Madchester’s music scene with her band Intastella, a talented writer and director, her latest play Nico Icon returned to The Lowry last year), Clyve Bonelle (Lookin’ For Lucky, Rank, Bubbysaurus, Shameless), Phoebe Marie Jones (Rank, Twelfth Night, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Duchess of Malfii), Ian Curley (Rank, Lookin’ For Lucky, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, A Game Of Two Halves) Ste Myott (Lookin’ For Lucky, Rank, Life On Mars, The Laramie Project) and Aaron Rochford, (Rank, Moody Money, Broken Britain, Perfect To Begin). Between them the cast play 18 characters in the play. Strong adult content.
.
REVIEWS:
Highly recommended and a play, and writer, which will surely go on to great things.
Kevin Bourke, Manchester Evening News
The Bench is not for the squeamish. It has strong language, and touches on addiction, grief, homelessness and abuse; but it is absolutely an authentic play of today, and has a distinctive voice that speaks with great humanity.
Chris Honer, Artistic Director, The Library Theatre, Manchester.
Loved it! Wonderful gags out of left field, intrigue, suspense, heart-rending scenes and heart-warming moments. A great night of theatre! Do more!
David Slack, Director, 24/7 Theatre Arts Network
Surely you couldn't have missed it? Well, if you did, you missed out big time. Joe O'Byrne's The Bench was a brilliant piece that will hopefully go on to bigger things. Mike Heath, Director, Studio Salford
The Bench is yet another excellent example of high quality fringe theatre and it thoroughly deserves its excellent reputation. Dave Cunningham, whatsonstage.com
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