Preview: Fixing at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Can something broken ever truly be mended?

Fixing

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Tuesday 5 - Saturday 23 November 2024

Co-created by Matt Miller and Peader Kirk

Performed by Matt Miller

Matt Miller & Peader Kirk in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre present the World Premiere of Fixing - a show about family breakups and trying to make things better, about learning car maintenance and choosing the right shade of lipstick to do it in – at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle, from 5-23 November 2024.

Photo:  Tom Platinum Morley

When Matt was little, their dad bought a classic car. A 1954 Sunbeam Talbot Mark II. Dad had ideas that he and Matt would do it up, repair, rebuild together. They never did, and the car festered in a garage. I mean, Dad had just been through a divorce. Now in their 30’s, Matt would like to learn how to fix a car engine. They’d like to learn a bit more about Dad, and that time, when Dad and Mum split up. The time when Matt and Dad were closest. Matt can’t do this alone, which is tricky for a solo show. That’s where Matt’s drag alter-ego Natalie Spanner comes in. She knows all about things that girls like Natalie know about. Like how to build an engine. About maintenance, care and repair. Together, Matt and Natalie will try to ask, in an increasingly broken world, how might we repair ourselves, together?

Photo:  Tom Platinum Morley

At a time when connections in the world seem to be breaking down more than ever, through global divisive politics, but also on a one-to-one level; Fixing seeks to initiate conversations around care, nurture, rupture and recovery. Fixing invites audiences to consider what maintenance means to them in the context of personal relationships.

This is the third full length show that Matt and Peader have made together and the third supported by Alphabetti Theatre in Matt’s hometown of Newcastle under the artistic directorship of Ali Pritchard. Alphabetti’s uniquely supportive and nurturing co-production offer makes work possible for artists across the North East and this show became possible because of that co-production offer for bold new theatre. Alphabetti is local, affordable, accessible and essential.

Photo:  Tom Platinum Morley

Matt and Peader said: “Coming back to Alphabetti is coming home. Doing a three week run of a new show is an incredible gift and we are so excited to share this with Newcastle.” 

Throughout their work, Matt and Peader combine personal stories and bigger social questions to create work which is entertaining and thought provoking for a range of audiences including poetry, theatre and LGBTQ+ audiences. For the first time, they are moving into the world of drag, whilst also increasing their access offer for Disabled and Neurodiverse audiences. Longer term, they aim to tour nationally with this work.

Tickets:

To book for Fixing, visit: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/fixing or call 0191 261 9125. 

Pay What You Feel (5-9 November) 

£15 - £3 (12-23rd November); 

Access performances: 

Captioned 13 November; 

Touch Tour 6:30pm – 7.00pm 20 November; 

Audio described 20 November; 

Relaxed performances all Saturday Matinees.  

Age guidance 14+.