North East Theatre Guide: Preview: Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingers at Newcastle Alphabetti

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Alphabetti Theatre in partnership with Gary Kitching & Co present:
Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingers
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre
Tuesday 4^th– Saturday 8^th October 2016

Written and Performed by Gary Kitching & Steve Byron
Directed by Ali Pritchard

Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingers is a dark comedy interspersed with Tarantino-inspired projections and images of dogs. Set in the present day, it’s a humorous comment on how society treats those who are different. Our story follows two social outsiders - a man who wraps bacon to his knees (Bacon Knees) and runs alongside dogs coaxing them into a race; and Sausage Fingers an overweight ex-baker who’s coming to terms with the death of his unsupportive father. This bizarre meeting happens on the High Level Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne where this unlikely friendship blossoms as the two find their needs fulfilled by their friendship. Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingers is harrowing, heart-warming and hilarious.

Can I ask why you have bacon on your knees?
Yes.
Why do you have bacon on your knees?
Sports Equipment.
Can I ask you what sport?
Yes.
What sport?
Dog Racing.

Bacon Knees has always been fast. His parents were very proud. They would watch him running around the garden in circles for hours on end. In 1989 he found his calling…Crufts was on TV. 27 years later and Bacon Knees finds himself on his home track – the High Level Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne - up against a new opponent...

Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingerscame out of an Alphabetti Theatre 24 Hour Challenge in May 2015, when Gary and Steve wrote a play in 24 hours before reading to a handful of people. Ali provided the two of them with the following stimulus:

“In 1849, a week after opening the High Level Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne, the Geordies worked out that it was exactly the same length as a dog track and with raised pavement either sides, they had the perfect viewing terraces. This resulted in hundreds of people flocking to the bridge every night for a year, closing it off to race their dogs, gamble and drink.”

Since working on the play they have found out the source of this fact is slightly questionable… but still an excellent nugget of inspiration to create Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingers.

The Response Plays
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre
Wednesday 12^th– Saturday 15^th October 2016

Alphabetti Theatre will bring back our successful writing programme, The Response plays. They are giving 40 writers exclusive access to a rehearsed reading of Bacon Knees & Sausage Fingers challenging them to create a brand new short play in response to any aspect of the production. The playwrights are able to comment on a variety of elements, such as the themes, characters…even the colour of the auditorium!

They’re giving the writers just one week to write and finish their play. They will choose the two best responses which will be rehearsed, directed and performed at Alphabetti Theatre over four nights. It’s exciting, quick and challenging.
This programme is supported by Northumbria University Performing Arts Department. Curated by Ben Dickinson and directed by Matt Jamie.

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