Former Octagon Artistic Director David Thacker will direct David Mamet's American Buffalo for Rising Moon Productions at The Kings Arms in Salford.
A junk shop. Midwest America. Three small-time crooks plot to carry out the midnight robbery of a coin collection. In the hours leading up to the heist, friendship becomes the victim in a conflict between loyalty and business.
The full cast comprises Colin Connor (Warhorse, world tour; Girl from the North Country, UK Tour) as Don, David MacCreedy (The Full Monty, UK tour; Bouncers, John Godber Company) as Teach and John O’Neill (Boat Story, BBC); Coronation Street, ITV) as Bob.
Thacker was Artistic Director at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton from 2009 to 2015 before becoming Professor of Theatre at University of Bolton, but he has directed more than 150 theatre productions, seven of which transferred to the West End, and more than 30 films for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and WGBH Boston.
He said of The Kings Arms, "without any arts funding, Lisa Connor has created one of the most important fringe venues in the North West and I’m keen to support her ambition to stage high-quality, accessible, affordable, home-produced professional theatre. Lisa hopes that American Buffalo will be a catalyst for a year-long sustainable programme collaborating with local creatives to deliver accessible, exciting and diverse theatre and I hope I can help advance this aspiration."
American Buffalo will be at The Kings Arms 14–24 March.