Premiere Dates for STRAWBERRY JACK



Hi all

Well, it's been a long road for STRAWBERRY JACK so far.  I completed the script some 6 months ago and have been in negotiation with two theatres in the region for the last 6 months about the possiblity of premiering the play with them.  CONTACT Theatre was one of the theatres, the other is BOLTON OCTAGON (Studio Theatre) and they are currently still deep in rehearsals for SWEENEY TODD so can't give me a decision yet...however CONTACT Theatre have given me a decision...and that decision on this occasion is no...it does not sit well with their current program or philosophy, and in short - the play is too violent for them. 

I was initially a little taken aback by that reason - yes, there is violence in STRAWBERRY JACK - but I do not write violence for the sake of it, it is something that goes hand in hand with the world of a doorman treading the more dangerous paths of Paradise Heights, and I have seen far more violent productions in my time.   STRAWBERRY JACK is also shot through with an incredible compassion, along with humour, love and regret and loss; it has some interesting twists and turns - that said it is punctuated with a couple of quite violent incidents.  

However I have absolutely no quarrel with CONTACT.  Far from it, I fully respect their decision.  I love the whole positive vibe of creativity that centres and emanates itself from there through its people and productions.  They have a fantastic program of events coming up over the year and I'm pretty much gonna be living there attending them all.  I'm sure Tales from Paradise Heights will have a production premiering there at some point in the future...but the Exploitational Devil in me is very tempted to put 'TOO VIOLENT FOR CONTACT THEATRE' on the poster...that would help shift tickets eh?  I'm tussling with my wicked self over that one...;)  

I'm not one for letting the grass grow under my feet and I can now officially annouce that STRAWBERRY JACK will premiere at the SIR ROBERT POWELL THEATRE at SALFORD UNIVERSITY.  It's a fantastic theatre space.  It's really quite poignant and some how very appropriate to bring it there. 

SALFORD UNIVERSITY is where Tales from Paradise Heights was born, the initial hopes and dreams I had for a series of tales was born there when I was a student back in the late nineties and I wrote I'M FRANK MORGAN and LOOKIN' FOR LUCKY whilst I was still studying there.  Indeed the short film I'M FRANK MORGAN was produced and shot whilst I was still studying there with a cast and crew of then Salford University Students and tutors.  So Tales from Paradise Heights is coming home with STRAWBERRY JACK. 

The play will run from August 23rd to August 27th...more details to follow - all I can add is this play will really rock your world, show you more of Paradise Heights places and characters, and introduce you to Frank Morgan's club THE ACE OF SPADES...a club like no other...

STRAWBERRY JACK (Teaser Trailer)

Oh, and keep watching for THE WATCHER...premiere date 12/06/11 - rehearsals for RANK are now FULL ON and this time I'm in it so my work is really cut out for me, good job I'm surrounded by so many feckin talented genius's that are helping me keep the ball up in the air...;) - tickets are now selling FAST so book yours here...

http://www.thelowry.com//event/digit-rank?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social+Network&utm_campaign=Like+This+Event

JENI HOWARTH WILLIAMS as LISA in RANK (Photo: DANILE WARHURST)

Joe xx

Sponsored by LUCKY CABS, PARADISE HEIGHTS