Monkeywood bring bestselling memoir to life…

Monkeywood Theatre developed with The Lowry Studio

Once in a House on Fire

By Sarah McDonald Hughes

Directed by Martin Gibbons

The Lowry, Salford Quays Thu 31 March – Sat 2 April 2011 at 8pm and extra date added in The Quays Theatre, Mon 11 April at 8pm

The Civic, Barnsley Thursday 5 May 2011 at 7.30pm
The Continental, Preston Friday 6 May 2011 at 8pm

Manchester based Monkeywood Theatre have been earning a reputation for creating and producing ambitious, innovative and accessible high quality theatre since 2003 and their latest work looks set to continue this ambition. Following the huge success of the 2010 tour of Maine Road, their new project is a new play based on the characters, themes and places in the memoir, Once in a House on Fire by Andrea Ashworth, which opens at The Lowry on Thu 31 March 2011.

Developed with The Lowry Studio, supported by Arts Council England and funded through grants for the arts, Once in a House on Fire, by Sarah McDonald Hughes, is a compelling story set across South Manchester during the 1970s and 80s. Focussing on a family of four women living in the shadow of domestic violence and poverty, it is a hopeful, truthful and moving story of sisters, survival, and growing up.

Andy and her sisters haven’t had it easy. They escape through stories, games and dreams of a ‘happy family’. With each new start ending faster than the last, their hopes of ever getting it right are stubbed out along with their mum’s cigarettes. As a life beyond Manchester’s grey sky beckons, Andy knows her escape will come at a cost.

Monkeywood’s Co-Artistic Director Francesca Waite met author Andrea Ashworth in Los Angeles, where she is now based and Editor in Chief of online platform Womens Worldwide Web. Andrea and her family have supported the project from its inception, with Andrea’s sister and niece even attending one of the initial rehearsals. Andrea said, “I’m thrilled that Once in a House on Fire is being brought to life on the stage through the fabulous Monkeywood Theatre, and immensely proud that they’re devoting their unique talents and passion to sharing this story.  I can’t wait to see what they do…”

The Once in a House on Fire project began in August 2010 when Monkeywood and associate writer Sarah worked collaboratively with actors, a director, a video artist and young people from a local school and sixth form college to produce a first draft of the play. Growing up in Moss Side, Andrea attended Chorlton High School (formerly Oakwood High) and Xaverian Sixth Form College in Rusholme, which Monkeywood’s Sarah and Francesca also attended. Monkeywood ran workshops with both groups of young people and will present the final production to them in April. Of the young people’s involvement Francesca Waite said, “It was great to be able to work with the sixth formers to get their ideas on a story set in their neighbourhood, involving characters of a similar age to them. Although it was strange to return to our college, it was lovely to realise how far we’ve come since those days and share our experiences of making theatre with the drama students.”

Once in a House on Fire will tour nationally throughout 2011 and will appear in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The production will help to support Women’s Worldwide Web, an online platform that empowers women, their families and communities, through microfinance, education, mentoring and social networking. For more information visit http://www.womensworldwideweb.org.

Images: (l-r) Monkeywood Theatre’s Francesca Waite & Sarah McDonald Hughes at Xaverian College © Miriam Ainsworth; Francesca Waite & Author Andrea Ashworth in LA © Helen Cresswell; Monkeywood Theatre Martin Gibbons, Sarah & Francesca with Andrea’s family, Hannah & Sarah Tompkins outside of The Lowry © Miriam Ainsworth

Once in a House on Fire

The Lowry, Salford Quays Thu 31 March, Fri 1, Sat 2 & Mon 11 April 2011 Box Office 0843 208 6000

The Civic, Barnsley Thursday 5 May 2011 at 7.30pm Box Office 01226 327 000
The Continental, Preston Friday 6 May 2011 at 8pm Box Office 01772 499 425

Monkeywood bring Manchester story to the stage

Manchester based Monkeywood Theatre have been building a reputation for producing plays based on Mancunian stories and characters for the past 7 years and their latest work looks set to continue this ambition. Following the huge success of the 2010 tour of Maine Road, their current project is a new play based on the characters, themes and places in the memoir, Once in a House on Fire by Andrea Ashworth.

Monkeywood and their associate writer Sarah McDonald Hughes are currently developing Once in a House on Fire collaboratively with young people from Xaverian Sixth Form College in Rusholme and Chorlton High School, which both feature in the original novel. Two of Monkeywood’s Co-Artistic Directors, McDonald Hughes and Francesca Waite, also attended Xaverian and found the experiencing of returning to their roots inspiring, if surreal!

Francesca Waite said, “It was great to be able to work with the sixth formers to get their ideas on a story set in their neighbourhood, involving characters of a similar age to them. Although it was strange to return to our college, it was lovely to realise how far we’ve come since those days and share our experiences of making theatre with the drama students.”

Developed with The Lowry Studio, supported by Arts Council England and funded through grants for the arts, Once in a House on Fire is a compelling story set across South Manchester during the 1970s and 80s. Based on Andrea Ashworth’s book, recipient of the 1999 Somerset Maugham award, it is an inspiring, vibrant, truthful and moving story of sisters, survival and growing up.

Francesca recently met Mancunian Andrea in Los Angeles, where she is now based, and Andrea was delighted to hear about the project, “I’m thrilled that Once in a House on Fire is being brought to life on the stage through the fabulous Monkeywood Theatre, and immensely proud that they’re devoting their unique talents and passion to sharing this story.  I can’t wait to see what they do…”

Once in a House on Fire will undergo a series of rehearsed readings and Script in Hand performances this autumn, with a national tour planned for spring 2011. The production will help to support Women’s Worldwide Web, an online platform that empowers women, their families and communities, through microfinance, education, mentoring and social networking. For more information visit http://www.womensworldwideweb.org.

N.B. Tickets go on sale for forthcoming dates at The Lowry on Thu 4 November 2010!!! Watch this space for details of how to book….

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For more information contact Francesca Waite on Francesca@monkeywoodtheatre.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Monkeywood Theatre

Previous work includes the Arts Council England funded national tour of Maine Road in 2010, which was highly acclaimed (including unanimous 4* reviews and sell out audiences) for its authentic voice, excellent writing and superb performances; Last Orders, which was commissioned by the Royal Exchange as part of their 2009 sell-out PUB season; and A Song for the Lovers, which was produced at The Lowry in 2008 gaining 5* reviews and named as one of What’s On Stage’s top productions of 2008.  Other touring work includes Coach G in 2005 and Closer in 2003.

Sarah McDonald Hughes: Writer

Sarah’s writing credits for Monkeywood include Last Orders for the Royal Exchange Theatre’s PUB season, Maine Road and A Song For The Lovers. Sarah was highly commended by the BBC’s Alfred Bradley Bursary Award 2009 and was commissioned to write a radio version of Maine Road for the BBC Radio 4 afternoon play slot, which aired in January 2010. Sarah is currently part of the Royal Exchange’s new writing project The Twelve, and has recently been commissioned to write a play for Paines Plough’s national project, Come to Where I’m From, which will be produced at the Royal Exchange in November 2010.   Sarah is also part of Vision and Media’s ‘Drafted’ scheme, working with industry professionals to develop an original feature film screenplay.

Andrea Ashworth: Original Author

Andrea Ashworth is an academic, journalist, and author of the internationally bestselling memoir Once in a House on Fire (Picador 1998). She has written for numerous publications including Vogue, The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian and is currently working on a novel.

Monkeywood Theatre present

Maine Road

By Sarah McDonald Hughes

Directed by Martin Gibbons

The Lowry, Salford Quays

Fri 12, Thu 18, Fri 19 & Sat 20 March 2010

Press night Fri 12 March at 8pm

Manchester-based Monkeywood Theatre have it all to play for as the 2010 tour of Maine Road opens in The Lowry’s Quays theatre on Fri 12 March. A story about football, family, bricks and mortar, the company hopes Maine Road will strike a chord with football fans as well as theatre-goers.

Maine Road, by writer Sarah McDonald Hughes, premièred at the 24:7 Theatre Festival 2009 to resounding 4 star reviews and sell out performances. The script has undergone significant development for the 2010 tour, following production by the BBC as a radio 4 afternoon play. Monkeywood are delighted that the Maine Road tour is supported by Arts Council England with funding awarded through the Grants for the Arts initiative.

Leo is an avid City fan who finds his team packing up and leaving at the same time as his whole word falls apart. It is May 2003 and as the last game at Manchester City’s Maine Road stadium approaches, a family in mourning face their own struggle to survive. Let down by those he depends on most, Leo escapes into football and City, knowing that soon they’ll be gone too.

The script for Maine Road was shortlisted for the Alfred Bradley Bursary Award 2009, the most prestigious radio drama prize in the country. It was highly commended in a shortlist of 9, winning Sarah a year’s writing mentorship with the BBC. This is Sarah’s second award nomination, following her children’s play, The Tree, which was shortlisted for Theatre Centre’s Adrienne Benham Award in 2008.

As one cultural Manchester phenomenon, Maine Road, was being bulldozed, another was just forming. Monkeywood Theatre were established in 2003 and have been producing plays to great acclaim ever since. Previous productions include Last Orders, in 2009 as part of the Royal Exchange’s PUB season and the 5 star A Song for the Lovers at The Lowry, in 2008.

The audience said: “As a City fan it brought back very fond memories. As a theatre worker I thought it was excellent….It’s like someone wrote down my life!”

The reviewers said: “Maine Road is a gentle and moving play examining the effect of change upon those things from which we derive our identity and sense of community…. Maine Road avoids nostalgia to deliver a bittersweet, moving tale that is highly recommended.” Whatsonstage.com

Images: (l-r) Writer Sarah McDonald Hughes © Sylvia Selzer, Maine Road and Daniel Fitzsimons as Leo in Maine Road © Miriam Ainsworth

Maine Road

The Lowry, Salford Quays

Fri 12, Thu 18, Fri 19 & Sat 20 March 2010

Times: Fri 12 at 8pm, Thu 18 – Sat 20 at 7.45pm, Sat mat at 2.30pm

Tickets: £5 – £10

0843 208 6000 www.thelowry.com

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For more information please go to www.monkeywoodtheatre.co.uk or email francesca@monkeywoodtheatre.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Tour

The new production of Maine Road tours from The Lowry to:

Sat 10 April, 7.30pm – Action Transport Theatre

Whitby Hall, Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. CH65 9AE

0151 357 2120

www.actiontransporttheatre.org

Sat 24 April, 7.30pm – Saltburn Community Theatre

Albion Terrace, Saltburn by the Sea, TS12 1JW

01287 624 622

www.saltburnarts.net

Fri 30 April 2010, 8pm – Halifax Square Chapel

10 Square Road, Halifax, HX1 1QG.

01422 349 422

www.squarechapel.co.uk

Monkeywood Theatre

Monkeywood are Sarah McDonald Hughes from Moss Side, Francesca Waite from Didsbury and Martin Gibbons from Saltburn. Producing plays in Manchester since 2003, Maine Road follows Last Orders at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Studio; A Song for the Lovers, performed at The Lowry in Salford, making whatsonstage.com’s final list of 2008’s top productions, described as “highly charged and engaging…packed with humour and pathos”; Coach G, performed in 2005 at Manchester’s Taurus Bar, Chorlton Arts Festival and Studio Salford described in the Evening News as “Hip… edgy and watchable… compelling and intriguing new play… well-served by a talented young cast” and Closer by Patrick Marber at Manchester’s Platt Chapel in 2003.

Sometimes getting away isn’t that easy…

Monkeywood Theatre Company

A Song For The Lovers

By Sarah McDonald Hughes

Directed by Anna McDonald Hughes

A Song For The Lovers

25, 26, 27, 28 and 30 July 2006

Bedlam, Peter Street, Manchester

“I’m going to look after you, Catie. I think I can.” Davy’s never had a best mate before. So he’s not going to let anything come between him and Catie – especially not Jenna.

As part of the 24:7 Theatre Festival, Monkeywood premieres a compelling, funny story about friendship, despair, optimism and love.  Catie (Sarah McDonald-Hughes) needs to make a change but doesn’t know it until she meets Davy (Martin Gibbons), who would do just about anything to make her happy.  Their adventures begin one night in Manchester when Catie’s old friend, Jenna (Francesca Waite), tries to help Catie see that there must be another way.

A Song For The Lovers, written by Sarah McDonald Hughes and directed by her sister, Anna McDonald Hughes, is produced by emerging Manchester-based theatre company Monkeywood.  Formed in 2003 with an innovative production of Patrick Marber’s ‘Closer’, they received rave reviews for their own production, Coach G in 2005 and are passionate about performance and new writing.

For a third year the 24:7 Theatre Festival brings one-hour plays from some of the region’s creative talent to unusual venues across the city.  This year’s festival will run from 24 – 30 July.

Image credits l – r Martin Gibbons, Sarah McDonald Hughes and Francesca Waite

© Sean Turner 2006

Design Marcus Diamond 2006

Press Preview

Sunday 23 July 2:15pm

A Song For The Lovers

Bedlam, Peter Street, Manchester

25, 26, 27, 28 and 30 July 2006

7.15pm

Tickets: £6/£5 Box office: 0161 236 7110 or www.247theatrefestival.co.uk or www.quaytickets.com

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Local theatre company keep football close to their hearts

Monkeywood Theatre present

Maine Road

By Sarah McDonald Hughes

Directed by Martin Gibbons

Pure: Funktion, The Printworks Mon 20 – Sat 25 July 2009

As the opening of the sixth annual 24:7 Theatre Festival approaches, South Manchester-based Monkeywood Theatre have it all to play for. Maine Road, written by Sarah McDonald Hughes, is the company’s second outing in the festival and one they hope will strike a chord with football fans as well as theatre-goers.

The script for Maine Road was shortlisted for the Alfred Bradley Bursary Award 2009, the most prestigious radio drama prize in the country. It was highly commended in a shortlist of 9, winning Sarah a year’s mentorship at the BBC. This is Sarah’s second award nomination, following her children’s play, The Tree, which was shortlisted for Theatre Centre’s Adrienne Benham Award in 2008.

Set in 2003, Maine Road happens at the time when Manchester City were playing the last few games at their hallowed stadium, before it was bulldozed. The story follows Leo, a teenager whose world is collapsing just like his beloved ground.

Writer Sarah explains what inspired her, “I’m really interested in the idea that places can have real meaning and impact on people’s lives. I live near what was the Maine Road stadium in Moss Side and it’s amazing how much of a legacy of the ground is still there.”

In addition to Sarah, Monkeywood are Francesca Waite from Didsbury and Martin Gibbons, also from Moss Side. The company have been together since 2003, producing plays in Manchester to great acclaim. Maine Road follows their last production, A Song for the Lovers, which was performed in 2008 at The Lowry in Salford. Marking Sarah’s playwriting debut, it was given 5 stars by whatsonstage, described as “highly charged and engaging…packed with humour and pathos”, making their final list of top productions of 2008.

Maine Road

Pure: Funktion

The Printworks, Manchester, M4 2BS

Mon 20 – Sat 25 July 2009

Tickets £8/£6

Times Mon 20 9pm, Tue 21 12.30pm, Wed 22 7.30pm,

Thu 23 6pm, Sat 25 3.30pm

0870 428 0785 or www.247theatrefestival.co.uk

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For more information please go to www.monkeywoodtheatre.co.uk or email Francesca@monkeywoodtheatre.co.uk