Acclaimed theatre company, Out of Joint, return to the Exeter Northcott Theatre in May, this time with Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage – a new, verbatim play directed by Max Stafford-Clark.
On the eve of one of the most important games of his career, Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas received a warning: The Sun newspaper was going to “out” him as gay.
This is the story of two Welsh names bruised, but not beaten, by media speculation: Gareth Thomas, 100 caps for Wales, now the world’s most prominent gay sportsman; and his hometown, Bridgend, itself a victim of intrusion following the deaths of several young residents.
Working with Gareth himself, and young people in Bridgend, two of the UK’s most exciting theatre companies – Out of Joint and National Theatre Wales – have teamed up to tell a great story about sport, politics, secrets, life and learning to be yourself.
★★★★★
“It wrenches the gut and makes the soul sing. Staggeringly moving”
THE TIMES
★★★★★
“A moving story with some real dark times, told with a wonderful and realistic sense of humour… Thoroughly enjoyable for anyone”
THE PUBLIC REVIEWS
★★★★
“…an uplifting story of hope. Inspiring.”
WALES ONLINE
★★★★
“Out of Joint aims to develop ‘entertaining theatre that broadens horizons and investigates our times’. Here, it does just that”
THE OBSERVER
★★★★
“Fantastically moving… a tremendous evening.”
THE SUNDAY TIMES
“…I have no interest in rugby whatsoever, don’t know one end of the ball from the other, but this drama with its very respectful treatment of working people and damaged people had me spellbound and very close to tears. Stafford-Clark is a master of the stage.”
BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
Tickets: A £24.50 B £21.50 C £19 D £16.50
Sat Matinee: £16.50
Concs: £2 off
Schools: £9 for groups 10+
Student Standby: £8
Age: This production includes some swearing and sensitive material
Date: Tues 5 –Sat 9 May 2015
Running Time: TBC
Post Show Talk: Tues 5 May
For more information, please contact Jenny Hogg on 01392 223 989 or email her at [email protected]
Notes to editors
Directed by Max Stafford-Clark
Writer Robin Soans is celebrated for his documentary verbatim plays based on interviews with real people, including Out of Joint’s acclaimed shows Mixed Up North, A State Affair and Talking to Terrorists which was nominated Best Play at the TMA awards and has had subsequent productions overseas including in Tehran. Others include Life After Scandal about Christine and Neil Hamilton, and The Arab-Israeli Cookbook, which also spawned a book of recipes. His most recent play was the fictional drama Perseverance Drive, which played to great praise at the Bush Theatre in 2014.
Designer Angela Davies
Lighting Designer Katy Morison
Sound designer Dyfan Jones
Movement Director Scott Graham
Cast: Rhys ap William, Patrick Brennan, Katie Elin-Salt, Daniel Hawksford, Lauren Roberts, Bethan Witcomb
Out of Joint makes and tours plays that are epic, inquisitive, original and authentic: entertaining theatre that broadens horizons and ask questions of our times. “The mighty Out of Joint” Time Out; “Inventive, individual and humane” Whatsonstage.com
National Theatre Wales has made theatre in forests, up mountains, on beaches, in nightclubs and across entire towns. They collaborate with storytelling poets, visual visionaries and inventors of ideas making theatre rooted in Wales with an international reach. “National Theatre Wales reinvents the language of theatre every time it puts on a show” Daily Telegraph
In its converted paint factory in Dalston, East London,Arcola Theatre presents new writing and forgotten classics to a local and international audience. World-class productions of plays, operas and musicals appear alongside exciting young companies. “One of the great success stories of the British Theatre” The Stage
For more information about Out of Joint, please visit: http://www.outofjoint.co.uk/
