A season of comedies at Lyceum Theatre Oldham is opening this month with Willy Russell’s snapshot of 1980s Britain ‘One For The Road’.
The early work is set on ‘Phase Two’ of a 1980s housing estate, where Dennis Cain thinks he is the only person who’s not brain-washed by Tupperware, John Denver and “poshed-up cottage pie”.
This hugely evocative period piece reminds us all of the joys of Thatcher’s Britain and a need for escape.
First performed at Manchester’s Contact Theatre in 1980, the play was updated in 1985 to include more modern cultural references.
Director Melvyn Bates, who has been involved with Lyceum Theatre Oldham for ten years, said: “I applaud the Lyceum for choosing a season of comedies.
“In the current climate there is not much to smile about and our regular audience will welcome the opportunity to have a good laugh.”
The play is the first in a season of five comedies at the Lyceum, with productions spanning eighty years and many genres.
Meanwhile, three talented writers will be the winners of cash prizes and productions thanks to Lyceum’s ‘PlotFest’, a One Act Playwriting Competition.
With a closing date of 31 December 2017, there’s plenty of time for budding and experienced playwrights over 18 to come up with an idea and put it down on paper.
The short plays should be 20-30 minutes long with 2-5 characters. All information, aims and rules can be found on the website www.lyceum.org.uk
Next year, Lyceum Theatre Oldham reaches its 90th anniversary and is starting the celebrations by staging the three winning plays of PlotFest on 13 & 14 July 2018.
The winners will also receive cash prizes of £250 (1st Prize), £125 (2nd Prize) and £75 (3rd Prize).
The three judges are well-known to Oldham audiences and other local theatre companies: Maggie Blaszczok, Pauline Walsh and Dominic Peberdy.
Lyceum Theatre Oldham presents ‘One for the Road’ by Willy Russell on 22-30 September 2017 at 7.30pm (no performance Sunday 24 September). Tickets cost £8.50 and are available online: lyceumtheatre.org.uk or call the Box Office: 0161 627 1032.
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