Manchester based Monkeywood theatre's By Far The Greatest Team, at The Lowry from September 17-20, will feature Mark Jordon from Oldham (PC Phil Bellamy in Heartbeat and Daz Spencer in Emmerdale), Samantha Siddall from Reddish, Stockport (Mandy Maguire in Shameless), David Judge from Manchester (Hollyoaks and Scuttlers, Royal Exchange), Meriel Schofield from Chester (Beverley in Last Tango in Halifax, BBC) Francesca Waite from Manchester (Flesh, Monkeywood Theatre), Chris Jack from Manchester (The Funfair, HOME) as well as two of the play’s writers Andrew Sheridan from Cheshire (Clocking Off, Blindsided, Royal Exchange Theatre and The Skriker, Royal Exchange and Manchester International Festival) and Sarah McDonald Hughes from Chorlton (Maine Road, Monkeywood Theatre and BBC Radio 4).
Told in a game of two halves, By Far The Greatest Team tells four new stories about Manchester City, Manchester United, identity, community, and belonging and gets to the heart of why the beautiful game has such an impact on our lives, season after season.
The new production will see the Quays Theatre at The Lowry, where Monkeywood Theatre is an Associate Artist, transformed into a football stadium, recreating the atmosphere of a match day in the city.