Wine of India in the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

Julie and Will Packer know what awaits them...
Morag Peacock and Taran Knight in Wine of India
Photo: Ben Dobbs

The second annual Greater Manchester Fringe Festival opened today.  Bigger and better than last year - as it needs to be, this year facing heavy-duty competition from the biannual Manchester International Festival - this Fringe takes in 14 different venues across Manchester and Salford.  But as with the 2012 fringe, the Lass O'Gowrie is at the heart of the action with several in-house productions, including the now-traditional collaboration with Scytheplays.  And as with last year, the production in question is inspired by the writing of Nigel Kneale - in the case a new stage adaptation of the BBC TV Wednesday play, Wine of India.

Poster artwork by Jake Geen

Originally broadcast in 1970 and starring Brian Blessed, Wine of India was a one-off science-fiction piece exploring a future in which medical science has abolished ageing, but with a price.  Once a person reaches the end of their contract with the state to provide them with rejuvenating drugs, they must die.  And when Will Packer reaches his contract day, he finds he must attend his own funeral. At this bittersweet and brief reunion with his family and friends, he will finally be able to taste the wine of India...

Broadcast once and then wiped in the BBC's 1970s videotape purge, no visual material is known to survive of the original TV production of Wine of India and the script was never published.  The new stage version is therefore an incredibly rare chance to experience this classic play, which is filled with the black humour, searing intelligence and bleak worldview for which its author is renowned.  And the writing/producing/directing team behind the highly-acclaimed Year of the Sex Olympics stage production has once again assembled a superb cast including that production's Kin Hodder, Will Hutchby, as Mike and Sam; Scytheplays' second Halo Jones, Morag Peacock, as Julie; and several newcomers to Scytheplays including Taran Knight (soon to be seen in both the 24:7 Theatre Festival's Temper and Receptive Theatre Company's The Ray Harryhausen Skeleton Orchestra) as Will, Una Love (currently appearing in Organised Chaos Productions' Broken at the Buxton Fringe Festival) as Jonna, with Quentin Knight as Adam, Gemma Ryan (Mind the Gap Theatre's Stig of the Dump) as Nita, Luke Helly (Lass O'Gowrie's Rotten Apples) as Russ, Tom Reed-Goodehall as Dod, Carole Bardsley as Bee, The Hooligan Factory's Liam Grunshaw as Mac and Menyee Lai  as Pat.

Family photos are always embarrassing:
Julie (Morag Peacock), Jonna (Una Love), Will (Taran Knight), Russ (Luke Helly) and Dod (Tom Reed-Goodehall)
Photo: Ben Dobbs

Wine of India performs at the Lass O'Gowrie on Thursday 11th July (7.30pm), Friday 12th July (7.30pm), Saturday 13th July (3pm and 7.30pm) and Sunday 14th July (3pm).  Tickets are £8 and can be bought on the door or pre-booked online here.

V rocks the Sci-Fi Weekender... and souvenirs are available!

Evey and V in the Main Void.  Photo: Karen Berry Photography

The Sci-Fi Weekender - Britain's annual Mecca for cult entertainment across all media - hit the Hafan y Mor Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Wales last week, and Scytheplays and Lass O'Gowrie Productions were there with V for Vendetta.  Here are some photos from the ten-minute preview scene, performed in the Main Void - the event's central performance space - during the convention's opening cabaret on Friday night, March 1st.  The preview featured Sinead Parker as Evey and Creedy actor Brian Gorman filling in for the temporarily indisposed Stuart Hudson as 'the Man', who threatens Evey before V (Daniel Thackeray) appears to save the day.

Evey entrapped, as V looks on.  Photo: the Fiction Stroker

Thanks to the technical support of the Weekender's entertainment providers, Area 51, and the lighting of Peter M George, V has never looked more spectacular, and an audience of several hundred greeted the preview scene with rapturous applause.  It's fair to say that the following night's performance of the full play in the jam-packed Spaceport venue - with Stuart Hudson back in place - was not without sound problems, but nevertheless the enthusiasm of the audience remained high with applause following almost every scene, and feedback was extremely positive.  It was a great adventure for the V for Vendetta team, who were able to return to the Main Void afterwards to dance the night away to Craig Charles' funk and soul!

It's to be hoped that Lass O'Gowrie Productions and Scytheplays will be able to mount further performances at similar events in future.  In the meantime a limited number of programmes and posters from the Weekender event - signed by cast members and featuring unique artwork - are available at £2 for posters and £1 for programmes.  Please e-mail guiltedge@hotmail.com for details.

Evey and V survey 'the opening night'.  Photo: Lee Howard/CelebExposed

For more from the photographers go to the Karen Berry Photography, Fiction Stroker and CelebExposed websites.

V for Vendetta comes to the Sci-Fi Weekender!

The poster art for V at the Sci-Fi Weekender, created by Jake Geen

After large audiences and great reviews for V for Vendetta's run at the Lass O'Gowrie in January (not to mention a sell-out audience for the final double-bill of V with The Ballad of Halo Jones), the show is making a swift comeback - but with a difference.  The new performance will be staged at the Sci-Fi Weekender in Wales on March 2nd.

One of the country's biggest science fiction conventions, the Weekender (formerly known as the SFX Weekender) is has now been running annually for four years.  Organisers Area 51, on seeing V in Manchester, invited Lass O'Gowrie Productions and Scytheplays to bring the show to their event.  However, this version of V for Vendetta will be substantially retooled to fit the needs of the hugely popular Weekender - which has a packed schedule already brimful of exciting entertainment and guests from the world of science fiction and fantasy, including actors Craig Charles (who will be bringing his famed DJ set), Peter Davison (Doctor Who), Brian Blessed (Wizards Versus Aliens) and Chase Masterson (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), and authors like Simon Clark (Blood Crazy) and Ben Aaronovitch (Moon Over Soho), among dozens of others.

Writer Sean Mason and director Ross Kelly have worked hard to create a new, streamlined adaptation of the graphic novel.  A number of Alan Moore's original characters and subplots have had to be excised to achieve a shorter running time, and this, plus scheduling conflicts, mean that, very sadly, original cast members Michael Whittaker, Tori Tunnah and Paida Noel are unable to appear in the new version.  However, the brilliant duo of Leni Murphy and Daniel Blake - who memorably played the Almonds in the Manchester production - have stepped in to play Valerie and Dominic Stone.  Returning from the Manchester production will be Sinead Parker as Evey Hammond, Daniel Thackeray as V, Marlon Solomon as Eric Finch, Carly Tarett as Delia Surridge, Jez Smith as Lewis Prothero and Stuart Hudson as Bishop Lilliman.  Musician Nathexious is creating new musical themes for the Weekender production.

Lass O'Gowrie Productions' Gareth Kavanagh said, "I've long thought that theatre deserves a place at the table at the great conventions so it's an honour to be bringing V to the Sci-Fi Weekender.  And with original V editor and old pal Dez Skinn in the audience...  No pressure!"

Sunday January 27th: Live Alan Moore double bill

This Sunday, January 27th sees the Lass O'Gowrie in Manchester hosting a thrilling and exclusive double bill of two of Scytheplays and Lass O'Gowrie Productions' recent collaborations, both drawn from the writing of Alan Moore: The Ballad of Halo Jones at 4pm and V for Vendetta at 8pm.

The Ballad of Halo Jones, based on Moore's comic strip serialised in 2000AD from 1984 to 1985 and drawn by Ian Gibson, is a restaging of the production recently performed at Leeds Thought Bubble in November 2012.  Ross Kelly and Ian Winterton's adaptation premiered to rave reviews at the Lass last January and is now returning home with an expanded and refined script.  The Fiction Stroker was present at the show's staging in Leeds and you can read his review of the production here.

Halo Jones (Morag Peacock). Photo: Elysian Photography

Meanwhile, V for Vendetta - adapted by Sean Mason from the 1983-88 comic book series written by Moore with art by David Lloyd, originally serialised in Warrior magazine - has just played to packed audiences from January 8th to 13th as part of Midwinter Lassfest.  The production has received very positive reviews from The Good Reviews, What's On Stage and the Fiction Stroker - as well as one not very positive one from The Public Reviews, but we can handle that.  Forbidden Planet Online have also published an interview with V actor, and The Ballad of Halo Jones director, Daniel Thackeray in which he discusses the double bill and the challenges of adapting a comic book for the stage.

V (Daniel Thackeray) in the Shadow Gallery. Photo: Ben Dobbs

The 'rep company' feel of the two productions enhances what should already prove to be a very special day of entertainment for both comic fans and people who love fringe theatre.  The two plays share several cast members, notably Sinead Parker, who stars as Rodice in Halo and as Evey in V, while that play's Eric Finch, Marlon Solomon, plays several roles in Halo including Mix Ninegold.  Other actors who appear in both shows include Leni Murphy, who has just received rave reviews for her multiple turns in Yer Maun Productions' Harvey, (Toy Molto in Halo/Rosemary Almond in V), Carly Tarett (Brinna Childresse-Lao/Dr Delia Surridge) and Brian Gorman (Peter Creedy), making his Halo debut as the Proximen and the Captain.  Meanwhile V's adapter, Sean Mason, appears in Halo as the Glyph and Paida Noel, from last year's production of Halo, now appears in V as Valerie Page.

Mix Ninegold (Marlon Solomon).  Photo: Hannah Telfer

The Man (Michael Whittaker) and Evey (Sinead Parker).  Photo: Ben Dobbs

Valerie (Paida Noel).  Photo: Ben Dobbs

Attendance at the plays costs £10 for each show individually and £12 for the double-bill.  Unfortunately online tickets have already sold out both for the V for Vendetta performance and for the double bill, but you can book tickets to see The Ballad of Halo Jones at this link.  There will be some tickets available on the door for both shows, but these will be sold on a first-come, first served basis so be early!  Enquiries about reserving tickets can be made via phone to the Lass on 0161 273 6932.

V for Vendetta: almost here

As V for Vendetta nears its start date, here are some shots from the final rehearsals showing director Ross Kelly working with actors Marlon Solomon (Eric Finch) and Daniel Thackeray (V).  The show begins this Tuesday at the Lass O'Gowrie, January 8th with showings at 6.30pm and 9pm, then continues on Wednesday at 2.30pm (half-price matinee) and 6.30pm, Thursday at 6pm and Sunday 13th at 8pm.  Tickets (including concessions) are available to purchase online here.

Happy New Year from Scytheplays!

After a short break for Christmas, work on V for Vendetta continues apace, with rehearsals ongoing and acclaimed musician Nathan Smyth (Nathexious) putting final touches onto his specially composed score... but we'd just like to take a moment to wish everybody who looks our way a very Happy New Year, and here's to an exciting 2013!

Tickets on sale for V for Vendetta

Tickets for V For Vendetta, along with all the other events in Midwinter Lassfest 2013, can now be booked online at the Lass O'Gowrie's WeGotTickets page here.  Tickets are £10 (not £8 as previously advertised - we apologise for the error).  In addition to the full price bookings, concessionary tickets are available at £6, as is the £12 double-bill with The Ballad of Halo Jones on Sunday 27th January.  Above is the poster art for the show, designed by Daniel Thackeray from photography by Laura Evans, and showing Sinead Parker as Evey.

Creedy (Brian Gorman), Finch (Marlon Solomon) and Stone (Michael Whittaker): the forces of law and order ranged against the enigma of V.

Dr Surridge (Carly Tarett), Lewis Prothero (Jeremy Smith) and Bishop Lilliman (Stuart Hudson): the authorities at Larkhill.  Photos by Laura Evans

Completing the cast, Daniel Blake and Jeremy Smith are playing Derek Almond and Lewis Prothero respectively.  Dan has recently appeared in Harvey at the Lass O'Gowrie (returning for two performances in January - also available for booking at the above link) while Jez is a veteran of Oldham Coliseum's ActingLAB, where he appeared in The Room and Princess Dee.

Further details of all the events in Midwinter Lassfest, including Coronation Street 1977, Withnail and I and numerous others, can be found at the dedicated website here.