Tony Teardrop

From 21 March - 6 April 2013, Liverpool’s iconic St Luke’s ‘bombed out’ Church will be the venue for a site specific production of the world stage premiere of Tony Teardrop, the acclaimed play by award-winning Liverpool playwright Esther Wilson. Cut to the Chase Productions present
WORLD STAGE PREMIERE OF ESTHER WILSON’S
TONY TEARDROP

21 MARCH - 6 APRIL 2013

In March 2013, Liverpool’s iconic St

Luke’s ‘bombed out’ Church will be the site for the site specific world stage premiere of Tony Teardrop, the acclaimed play by award-winning Liverpool playwright Esther Wilson. Tony Teardrop was originally written as part of a regional voices scheme with the National Theatre in 2004 but has never been produced as a stage production until now. Set in and around a residential support centre for the homeless and inspired by real stories, Tony Teardrop is a biting, humorous play about people living on the edges of society. We see the world through his relationship with fellow ‘space cadets’ and his struggles with the manager of the centre...until things come to a head when he takes the staff and residents hostage. Multi award-winning writer Esther Wilson’s credits include Unprotected (winner of an Amnesty International Award), Ten Tiny Toes, Call The Midwife, The Street, The Accused and The Pursuits of Darleen Fyles. Cut to the Chase Productions Artistic Director Jen Heyes will direct and produce the show, which runs between 21 March and 6 April 2013. Jen’s most recent projects Epstein: The Man Who Made the Beatles at the city’s Epstein Theatre and Treasured at the Anglican Cathedral were both met with widespread critical acclaim.

2011 National Photographer of the Year Lee Jeffries will collaborate on the project. His iconic images of homeless people will be used within the production, and in the run up to the production Lee will also be creating a bespoke collection of Liverpool photographs called the 'Tony Teardrop Collection' which will later form an exhibition that will run in Liverpool, some of the original pieces will be auctioned and the profit will be given to Liverpool organisations who support the homeless. Lee’s work has been presented and received great acclaim all over the world and in the national and international press including Time Magazine and winner of first place in THE OPEN World photography. Cornwall based set and costume designer Myriddin Wannell (Mydd) is the designer for Tony Teardrop, and has a wealth of experience in designing for theatre, dance, opera and film. Recent productions include ‘BABEL’ for WILDWORKS & BAC, World stages London, 2012; ‘The Wild Bride, for Kneehigh Theatre (currently Touring); ‘THE PASSION’ starring Michael Sheen and WILDWORKS & National Theatre of Wales &‘The Enchanted Palace’ at Kensington Palace, for WILDWORKS. Cut to the Chase will also be collaborating with acclaimed Liverpool 5-piece rock n’roll band The Cubical who will be providing the music for the production along with compositions by Dan Wilson. The Cubical have spent the last few years building up an amazing reputation as one of Europe's best live bands and have an ever growing cult following. Their latest album ‘Arise Conglomerate’ just earned 4 stars in MOJO magazine. Esther Wilson said:

“The production of Tony Teardrop, set in the beautiful ruins of St Luke’s Church, hopes to explore the complexities of the troubled and the homeless. In the lead up to the production we will be working with remarkable people who have made it their business to shine a light into the darker corners of this city. It’s an exciting and scary time. Every project has its own rhythm and process. This one, set outside in a place that was created to offer succour to people, will bring its own challenges. Walking past St Luke’s a couple of years ago I heard a guy (a little worse for wear) say to his mate ‘let’s sit over there on that bench, we’ll get a different view’. The other bench was just a few feet away. I was moved by the profundity of such a statement. I hope everyone involved in Tony Teardrop, including the audience, come away with a ‘different view’ of the people who are as much a part of this city as its leaders and its dignitaries.”

Jen Heyes said:
"When I first read Esther's play 18 months ago its story touched my heart and I immediately realised the importance of bringing it to a wider audience. The Tony Teardrop story is so topical at the moment and this site specific production provides my company Cut to the Chase Productions with an opportunity to create a work that can have great impact, adding to our portfolio of groundbreaking projects. Producing Tony Teardrop has enabled me to bring world class artists and local organisations together to collaborate in Liverpool. At the heart of my company’s work is collaboration and bringing innovative ideas, culture, audiences, diverse partners and world class artists together. We’re about to start the casting process and I’m looking forward to this challenging but exciting stage of the project." Tony Teardrop is funded by ACE and Liverpool PCT trust and production partners include organisations Urban Strawberry Lunch, The Basement, Genie in the Gutter and Spider Project

As well as the production at the Bombed Out Church there are several other strands to the project including a photography exhibition, writing masterclasses and extensive outreach programme:

Tony Teardrop is funded by ACE and Liverpool PCT trust and production partners include The Basement, Genie in the Gutter who will be involved in a strong outreach programme working with the homeless. Outreach director Carl Cockram will create a programme of creative workshops based around Esther's play, using it as a springboard for participants to create their own work. Along with actors from the POG drama group (Genie in the Gutter clients) Carl will take the creative programme to homeless people in challenging areas of Liverpool. Genie is the Gutter will also be involved in the main production. Esther Wilson will deliver a series of writing masterclass sessions with Spider Project on ‘ Writing for Radio’ which will lead to the creation of a new body of original work created by their writing participants to be showcase in 2013. Esther has also written a radical radio version based on true stories which explores homelessness in Manchester. Working in collaboration with producer/director Pauline Harris they met and followed closely characters over many months. This was first broadcast in March 2012 on BBC Radio 3’s The Wire, and it has since been re-commissioned as a Radio 4 drama for BBC Radio 4, to be broadcast later this year, both produced and directed by Pauline Harris. Production information:
Tony Teardrop
By ESTHER WILSON
Produced and Directed by JEN HEYES
Designed by MYRIDDIN WANNELL
Photography by LEE JEFFRIES
Music by DAN WILSON & THE CUBICAL
Lighting Design by PHIL SAUNDERS
CAST - to be confirmed
Site Specific Production at St Luke’s also known as 'The Bombed Out Church' L1 2TR
www.cuttothechaseproductions.co.uk

Performance Details:
March 21st to April 6th 2013 - 8pm
Site Specific Production at St Luke’s also known as 'The Bombed Out Church' L1 2TR

Ticket prices: All seats £10 for preview performances (21-25 March). Thereafter all seats £16, £12 concessions, students £10 Mon-Thu only, otherwise general concession. Groups: 1 in 10 goes free

How to Book
Ticketing is processed through the Tony Teardrop production partner - Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
By Phone: 0151 709 4776
Group Bookings 10+: 0151 708 3733
In Person: Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool, L1 1EL
Email Enquiries: [email protected]
Online: www.everymanplayhouse.com
No booking fees