Creative writing graduate Nick Yardley is hoping his award-winning play Towers of Babel will encourage tolerance during its March run in Manchester through its debates on cultural and religious identity.
With 9/11 as a backdrop, Towers of Babel tells the story of Jewish lawyer Vince and his son Justin, who works at a New York radio station opposite the World Trade Centre and is about to admit to his father that he’s given up on his religion.
The play won the Octagon Theatre Prize for Outstanding Drama written by a University of Bolton student in 2011, after being submitted by Nick’s tutor.
The theatre’s artistic director, David Thacker—now the university’s first Professor of Theatre—suggested Nick adapt the story for the stage after it was originally written for radio as his final-year project.
It was entered into the 24:7 Theatre Festival, where it was performed three times and nominated for Best Play. Nick has also taken part in the Re:play Theatre Festival, and has just been awarded Arts Council funding to take Towers of Babel on a national tour.
Towers of Babel was inspired by two conversations Nick had within hours of each other. While at work as a self-employed plasterer, a Jewish lady told him she thought the media is biased against Jews and on his next job, he spoke to a group of Muslims who said they thought the media were anti-Islam.
Said Nick: "I realised they thought the same thing and thought they were they only ones, and it’s probably the same for other cultures and religions."
Nick has worked for over 20 years as a plasterer, writing in his spare time. "I was one of those people who had lots of stories written but never the bravery to do anything with them."
Towers of Babel will run March 14-22 at the Manchester Maccabi Community and Sports Club.
Details: www.ibookedit.com/towersofbabel