Pop-up theatre in Darlington

Published: 30 September 2017
Reporter: Peter Lathan

Paines Plough's Roundabout: interior
Paines Plough's Roundabout: exterior

Paines Plough brings its pop-up Roundabout theatre to Darlington from 5 to 8 October as part of the Darlington Pop-Up TheatreTown initiative, linking with the autumn Jabberwocky Market season. Situated in the Market Square, this will be the first time it has visited the North East and most recently was at Edinburgh Fringe venue Summerhall.

Roundabout is the world’s first pop-up, plug-and-play theatre. It flat-packs into a lorry and pops up all over the country in theatres, school halls, warehouses, sports centres, town centres, car parks and fields.

Alongside the Jabberwocky shows, Paines Plough will present three of its own productions in association with Theatr Clwyd and The Orange Tree Theatre.

  • 5 October @ 8:30 & 7 October @ 7:30
    Black Mountain
    By Brad Birch

    Rebecca and Paul are running away. Away from memories and mistakes. They’re trying to save their relationship. But you can’t run forever. Especially when you’re being followed.

    A tense psychological thriller about betrayal and forgiveness by the winner of the Harold Pinter Commission, Brad Birch.

  • 6 & 7 October @ 10:30
    How to Be a Kid
    By Sarah McDonald-Hughes

    Molly cooks. Molly does the dishes. Molly gets her little brother Joe ready for school. Molly is only 12, but she doesn't feel much like a kid anymore. Now Molly's Mum is feeling better, maybe things will get back to normal. Can the audience help Molly learn how to be a kid again?

    Warning: Contains dancing, chocolate cake and an epic car chase.

  • 6 October@ 1:00; 8 Oct @ 5:00
    Out of Love
    By Elinor Cook

    Lorna and Grace do everything together. They share crisps, cigarettes and crushes. That's what happens when you're best friends forever.

    But when Lorna gets a place at university, and Grace gets pregnant, they suddenly find themselves in starkly different worlds. Can anything bridge the gap between them?

The arrival of the Roundabout in the town is part of a new initiative, Darlington Theatre Town, to bring ambitious and high quality theatre to the town. It brings together partners Creative Darlington, Darlington Hippodrome, Luxi, Theatre Hullabaloo and ODDMANOUT and is funded by the Arts Council and Darlington Borough Council.

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