F*ingered by a Wurzel

By Editor on June 28, 2022

Following their success at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival last September, Northern Rep Theatre will be taking to the stage once again next month with their newest play, the cheekily titled F*ngered By A Wurzel. Again, as part of GMFF, the latest piece from the pen of local writer, Laura Genders and produced by company Artistic Director, Holden Oak, will be shown at Salford Arts Theatre from 20^th July to 22^nd July.

The play revolves around an hour in the lives of three sisters who have come back to the small town where they were raised in the lead up to the wedding of the eldest, Kat. The comedy explores the relationship between the siblings and if, in between wedding plans, psychopathic toddlers and Broadway debuts, the siblings can align themselves for the biggest day in Kat’s life.

The all-female cast is made up, once again, of local actors and features Amy Leech, Emily Redwood and Gemma Wilson, all of whom have been seen treading the boards at The Little Theatre with MADS on numerous occasions, clocking up acclaimed performances in productions including The End of the Affair, Jerusalem and The Cripple of Inishmaan, amongst many others.

The director, Hans Luke Oldham, is also a regular performer at the venue on Lord Street and has appeared this season in the Anne Brontë classic The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, as well as directing the satirical and still relevant Feed the Beast by Steve Thompson. Whilst this is Hans’ directorial debut with the company, he may appear familiar to those who saw last year’s production of ‘Bysmal Boys, in which he played Fireman Phillip ‘Phil’ Butler.

‘Bysmal Boys was based around the 1977 national Fire Brigade strike and was a fictionalised version of the experiences of Blue Watch, Macclesfield, loosely based on the stories of retired Firefighter Glyn Genders. The play was well received, closing to a standing ovation on opening night and despite serious competition, was the recipient of the Best Drama 2021 award from Greater Manchester Fringe Festival. Northern Rep Theatre are planning on bringing ‘Bysmal Boys home to Macclesfield later in the year to coincide with the 45^th anniversary of the national strike.

F*ngered By A Wurzel opens on Wednesday 20^th July 2022 to Friday 22^nd July 2022 at Salford Arts Theatre with a 7.45pm curtain. Tickets £10/£8.50 and are available from www.salfordartstheatre.com/whats-on or manchester.ssboxoffice.com/events/fngered-by-a-wurzel/