Whitley Bay-based theatre company Cloud Nine's latest production at the coast is its first ever one-man play, a piece written by artistic director Peter Mortimer for his actor son Dylan.The short run also takes in two new venues for the company.
A Parcel for Mr Smith promises to be the most bizarre offering in the company's tradition of producing short absurdist plays. Smith is a comic, obsessive character whose life is distorted by the arrival of an unexpected parcel which he cannot bear to open. Could it portend the end of the world? And what is that second knock at the door?
Though only Smith is seen on stage, an off-stage voice does repeat play's title twelve times to the increasingly distress of our hero.
The production is directed by Neil Armstrong.
This is the tenth in this series of of plays in the last three years centered on the Low Lights Tavern in North Shields. The formula is either two short plays or one play plus music from some of the area's best musicians. Here's it the latter.
The play opens at the Surf Cafe Tynemouth on Monday 11 May, before three Low Lights performances. Then there will be one performance each at the new venues, The Yoga Station in Whitley Bay, and Seaton Delaval Arts Centre.
Performances
- Monday 11 May at 7:30, Surf Cafe, Tynemouth
- Tuesday-Wednesday 12 & 13 May at 7:30, Low Lights Tavern, North Shields
- Thursday 14 May at 7:00, Low Lights Tavern, North Shields
- Friday 15 May at 7:30, Yoga Station, Station Square, Whitley Bay
- Saturday 16 May 16 at 7:30, Seaton Delaval Arts Centre