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03/06/2018

Preview: The Butcher’s Bill on tour across the region



The Butcher’s Bill

South Shields & Westoe Club - Monday 11th June
Durham Alington House - Tuesday 12th June
South Shields Customs House - Thursday 14th - Saturday 16th June
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre - Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st June
Arts Centre Washington - Friday 22nd June
North Shields The Exchange - Saturday 23rd June

The Canny Craic Theatre Company presents The Butcher’s Bill a play by Ken Reay directed by Jamie Brown on tour from Monday June 11th 2018 with venues in South Shields, Durham City, Washington, Newcastle and North Shields.

Val McGregor from Canny Craic describes the play as a story about 3 men, each with stories to tell: some true; some false and some exaggerated.  All are trying to escape from No Man’s Land in France during the 1st World War. “The play is essentially a very black comedy of survival in extreme circumstances.  All three men could have avoided ‘joining up’ through age, health and mental issues but chose to fight because of family pressure, atavistic urges; and in one case, sheer  innocent ignorance.”

Writer Ken Reay said, “A version of this play was staged at The Customs House in South Shields in 2006 and was very well received and I decided to re-write it in the light of feedback from that production plus the chance to work with Jamie Brown as Director.  His comments and ideas have been invaluable.  He has also assembled a brilliant cast of multi-talented actors broadening the scope of play; and setting me exciting challenges!”

Paul Dunn and Lawrence Neale
Jamie Brown, the project’s Director said, “I can’t wait to get into the room and begin throwing The Butcher’s Bill around.  We have a taut, pressure-cooker script, depicting an intriguing catch-22 situation comprising of three vivid characters - all with their own flaws - being portrayed by three of the most accomplished actors in the region.  It has the potential to be really great.  We’re visiting some fab regional venues with a locally produced show which, these days, is also so important for the cultural fabric of the area, and I’m delighted to be part of that.”

Paul Dunn
Even as a relatively new company Canny Craic have successfully toured several historical, fact based, ‘workshops’ with Heritage Lottery and Barbour Foundation funding. But sponsorship for the Butcher’s Bill project is by a box office split with the venues and from Vic Young Garages who are providing their transport. It will be followed by another HLF and Barbour Foundation funded tour of ‘workshops’ with actors, based on World War 1 with the culmination being at The Word in South Shields on Armistice Sunday.

Cast & Creatives:
Writer       Ken Reay 
Director     Jamie Brown 
Producer  Val McGregor 

Cast:   Paul Dunn
            Steven Arran
            Lawrence Neale

Tour Dates:
South Shields & Westoe Club            Monday 11th June  7.30pm
Tickets £5 from Bar Staff
Alington House Durham City            Tuesday 12th June  7.30pm
Tickets £5 from venue
Customs House South Shields           Thursday 14th, Friday 15th & Saturday 16th June 7.30pm (2.30pm Saturday)
Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle           Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st June 7.30pm
Arts Centre Washington                   Friday 22nd June  7.30pm
The Exchange North Shields              Saturday 23rd June 7.30pm

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