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Northern Outlet Theatre Company has announced their forthcoming production of Bill Naughton's Spring And Port Wine at The King's Arms in Salford, running 12th - 15th February as part of the Mashed Up North Season.
SPRING AND PORT WINE is a comedy about the attempts of a traditional father (Rafe) to manage his family, only to face revolution over an uneaten herring. This production moves the action from its original setting in post-war Bolton to post-communist Romania, and is something that the director Paul Blinkhorn has wanted to bring to the stage since spending time in the country, as part of a cultural exchange facilitated by Rotary International in 2009.
"In my efforts to better understand the differences between Romanian culture and our own, I invariably came to see how much we ultimately had in common. We so often find ourselves preoccupied by what sets us apart, rather than by what could actually bring us closer together."
Even in a European setting, the production retains its Northern roots. The familiar Northern accent remains, as do the distinctive turns-of-phrase in Naughton's dialogue.
The lead role of Rafe will be played by Derek Hicks, who returns to SPRING AND PORT WINE having previously playing the role of youngest son Wilfred in The Octagon Theatre's production of the play in 1984. Joan McGee will join him as Daisy, his long-suffering wife. Lily Shepherd will play headstrong daughter Hilda, and Mary Gerardine Hooton will assume the role of father fixated daughter Florence. The sardonic middle brother Harold will be taken by Adam Bolton, and the youngest son Wilfred, will be played by Christopher Blinkhorn. Florence's fiancé Arthur is Adam Vinten, while Cátia Perry is next-door nosy neighbour Betsy Jane. Spring And Port Wine is directed by Bolton-born Paul Blinkhorn, who received acclaim for his production of Tape at the Library Theatre as part of Re:play.
*Listing information*
*Company: * Northern Outlet Theatre Company
*Title: * Spring and Port Wine
*Writer: * Bill Naughton
*Director: * Paul Blinkhorn
*Dates: * Wednesday 12th - Saturday 15th February at 8.00pm
*Theatre: * The King's Arms, 11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN
*Tickets: * £10 (£8 conc)
Tickets are available online from The King's Arms at www.kingsarmssalford.com
Provided that the show isn't sold out in advance, you can buy tickets in cash at the venue from 30 minutes before the show.
