Road (Modern Classics)

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Those people are poorer now,” says Tiffany, “and austerity has really started to dissolve the structure of civic life as we know it.” One of the most powerful things about Road, says Dudgeon, is that “it shows ordinary, struggling working-class characters and makes them into heroes”. Now, even more so than when the play was written, it’s rare to see honest yet positive portrayals of working-class life. Some of the events in 'Road' can leave the play open to accusations that it is depressing - certainly we see on various occasions humanity at its lowest points. Indeed some characters express a distinctly pessimistic outlook, perhaps most succinctly put when Scullery says "And just remember folks, if God did make them little green apples, he also made snot". But for me the lingering message is one of optimism. As the four youngsters, at the play's climax, purge themselves of their fears concerns and disappointments, they provide for us a glimpse of hope, their message of escape unequivocal. One night on Road in the late 1980s, somewhere in the north of England. Everyone's out on the lash. Eddie and Brink are dressing up before they go and sign on the next morning. Carol and Louise are maybe trying to get off with a couple of lads. The chippy's delivery hasn't arrived so they've only got chips. The Rise and Fall of Little Voice - Winner of: Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy of the Year; Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy directed by Sam Mendes.

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RAZ - Edinburgh Festival (Winner of Fringe First Award 2015), 2016 Trafalgar Studios, London & Nationwide tour. Directed by Anthony Banks. Find sources: "Road"play– news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( March 2010) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Road' explores the lives of the people who live in an un-named road, in a deprived, working class area of Lancashire during the Thatcher government - a time of high unemployment in the north of England. The action takes place over the course of one evening as the residents of the road prepare to go out, follows them at the club they go to and then on home afterwards. Despite its explicit nature, it was considered extremely effective in portraying the desperation of people's lives at this time, as well as containing a great deal of humour. A passionate, poetic and positive portrayal of working class life it is often performed on a promenade, allowing the audience to follow the narrator (Scullery) along the road and visit different sets and the different homes of the characters.

Eight Miles High - Octagon * 1994 & 1995 Bristol Theatre Royal Nominated for Theatre Management Association Best Musical Award. directed by Andy Hay Among the old-timers, Peter Corrigan, David Penrose, Sally Hartley and Peter Woodward impress, while Ingrid Corrigan impresses and amuses mightily as the neighbourhood mad old bag. One always has faith in actors of this standing and here that faith is not betrayed. In 1994 the play was produced by Out of Joint theatre and directed by Max Stafford-Clark. The production toured the UK and performed at the Leicester Haymarket and the Royal Court.

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It’s talked of with such fondness’ … Shane Zaza and John Tiffany during rehearsals. Photograph: Johan Persson The play has won a number of awards and was voted the 36th best play of the 20th century in a poll by the Royal National Theatre. [2] Notable productions [ edit ]