NEWS: Manchester theatre company to stage 'Anti-Valentine' play for February 14th

Rom-Coms be gone: Manchester theatre company promise ‘Anti-Valentines’ production this February

BAFTA winner Jack Thorne play ‘Mydidae’ to get its Northern debut

Wonderhouse Theatre Company – led by Stockport based David Gregan-Jones – is offering a “more authentic” Valentine’s Day experience, this February 14^th. 

“When it comes to living and loving in the real world,” says Gregan-Jones “we know it’s not always cherubs and chocolates. 

“We wanted to give Manchester audiences an insight into a relationship that is more honest, cathartic and loads more compelling than the verse in a Valentine’s card.”

Between Wednesday 13^thand Saturday 23^rdFebruary, Wonderhouse will be staging the Northern premiere of ‘Mydidae’: a play written by BAFTA winner Jack Thorne, who is also responsible for TV’s Skins, This is Englandand Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Gregan-Jones will be performing alongside Hollie-Jay Bowes, known as Hollyoaks’ Michaela McQueen and, more recently, from Channel 4’s No Offence and the 2018 award-nominated production of The Newspaper Boy.

Staged in a specially-designed bathroom set incorporating a full sized bath at the Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, characters ‘Marian’ and ‘David’ let an attempt at a romantic candlelit bath descend into shaving and peeing, as well as an autopsy of the most painful events in their relationship. 

Gregan-Jones said: “Bringing new theatre to Manchester is a real priority for Wonderhouse and we’ve been big fans of this play for a while now. It really examines all sides of love – the warmth, the humour but also the sadness and the more vulnerable moments. 

“We’re hoping it’s a bit of an antidote to the Valentine’s season, when some of us might just hit auto-pilot - buy the flowers, go to a restaurant but never really appreciate why.”

When describing Wonderhouse, BAFTA-winning television writer Russell T Davies says: “Wonderhouse are exciting. A joy to watch.”

Mydidae was first performed in the Soho Theatre, London in 2012 and starred Phoebe Waller-Bridge – writer of hit TV show Killing Eve and BAFTA winnerFleabag. In a review, the British Theatre Guide said: “What makes Mydidae worth seeing is its portrayal of recognisable people just like those that we meet every day in the pub, office or even our own homes. Put them into stressful situations and you never know what might happen.”

To follow up, Gregan-Jones said: “The writing is amazing. It considers human nature just as much as love - this is definitely not just for people in relationships. I’m missing my anniversary and Valentine’s Day to be part of this, so I might be single sooner than I hoped anyway.”     

For tickets and more information, visit www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk