Preview: Man to Man at Newcastle Northern Stage

A modern German fairy tale

  

A Wales Millennium Centre production

Man to Man

Newcastle  Northern Stage                                  

Tuesday 17^th - Wednesday 18^thOctober 2017

Written by Manfred Karge

Translated by Alexandra Wood

Photo: Polly Thomas

Wales Millennium Centre's poignant and powerful production of Manfred Karge's Man to Man comes to  Newcastle’s Northern Stage (Oct 17 - 18then embarks for New York to play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (Nov 7 - 11). This will be Wales Millennium Centre’s first production in the USA. 

This acclaimed one woman play tells the life story of a woman called Ella Gericke, who lived with her husband Max until one day he died. Then the Nazis arrived…

Photo: Polly Thomas

Based on an incredible true story, we witness Ella's struggle and determination in a volatile 20^th century Germany where she adopts the identity of her dead husband to survive.

Photo: Polly Thomas

Man to Man is a striking and spellbinding modern fairy tale inspired by the traditions of German storytelling. It gives audiences an incredible insight into what life was like in 20^th century Germany, including the radical changes of the Nazi’s rise to power, the Cold War and the Berlin Wall coming down.

Photo: Polly Thomas

Renowned as one of the UK’s leading presenting houses, Wales Millennium Centre has recently embarked on producing work with the intention of taking the very best made in Wales to the world. As one of our first productions, Man to Man demonstrates the bold ambition of Wales Millennium Centre as a national home to the performing arts – to Inspire our Nation and Impress the World.

Photo: Polly Thomas

Man to Man opened to 5 star reviews in Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015. Translated by award-winning playwright, Alexandra Wood, this new version unites the talents of a multi-Olivier and Tony award-winning creative team, led by directors Bruce Guthrie (Director of RENT the Musical & The Last Mermaid) and Scott Graham (Artistic Director of Frantic Assembly and Movement Director of Olivier-winning West End/Broadway production The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time). 

Photo: Polly Thomas

Bruce Guthrie, said: "Man to Man is a series of fragmented memories that our protagonist Ella is remembering and re-living. She is a working class character with no sense of self pity: a hero in many ways who finds herself having to make life and death choices on a daily basis.  I found that compelling when I first read the script. It is a familiar yet alien world. This version is about taking the audience on a sensory journey, evoking different reactions based on the series of potent memories explored.”

Maggie Bain, whose credits include Emma Rice's A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe, gives a tour de force performance in this beautiful, thought provoking production.

***** “The main triumph is Maggie Bain’s. She sculpts her voice and body to become a cast of dozens” The Guardian

***** "This stunning revival… is destined for classic status" The Times

***** “An impressive performance in an even more impressive visual production” The Stage

***** “A beautifully mesmerising 75 minutes, which will leave the audience surprised, touched and enriched.” British Theatre Guide

***** “This is political theatre par excellence” The Arts Desk

Performed by Maggie Bain

Directed by Bruce Guthrie & Scott Graham

Design by Richard Kent

Lighting Design by Rick Fisher

Sound Design by Mike Walker

Video Design by Andrzej Goulding

Music by Matthew Scott

Produced by Pádraig Cusack

‘Wales Millennium Centre’s licence to present Manfred Karge’s MAN TO MAN is granted by Rosica Colin Limited, London, by arrangement with henschel SCHAUSPIEL, Berlin.’ 

Age Guidance: 14+ (Contains strong language and adult themes)

Tickets:

Newcastle - Northern Stage                                             

Tuesday 17^th - Wednesday 18^th October 2017

Box Office: www.northernstage.co.uk  - 0191 230 5151