Blackbird sings for Hope Street Theatre audiences

David Harrower’s raw and emotional play Blackbird is being staged in Liverpool this month.

Roots Theatre presents the Olivier Award-winning two-hander, performed by Paul Duckworth and Bex Culshaw, at the Hope Street Theatre from March 25-28.

The play is being directed by Nick Bagnall, associate director at the nearby Everyman which is currently staging the premiere of Our Lady of Blundellsands which he has also worked on.

When Una (Culshaw) arrives in his office unannounced it forces Ray (Duckworth) to confront his past, and their relationship from 15 years before when he was 40…and she was 12.

Harrower wrote the play in 2005 after being inspired in part by a true-life sex crimes case.

It was commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival and went on to be staged in London starring Roger Allam and Jodhi May, where it won an Olivier for best new play. A revival in New York in 2016 saw Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams take the roles of Ray and Una.

Nick Bagnall says. “It’s been a long time since I've done such an intimate, immediate two-hander and I’m thrilled to be getting in the room with this play.

“Hope Street Theatre is the perfect venue; to be breathing the same space as these poisoned and damaged creatures, to see the whites of the actors’ eyes with no escape and to be left with some seriously complex questions. And to have it in Liverpool is a treat.

“Paul Duckworth and Bex Culshaw as the actors are the ideal partnership. They will leave you heartbroken and enriched and, in a world, and at a time that needs to be asking the bigger questions.”

Be warned the play contains strong language and themes of strong sexual content that some audience members may find upsetting.

Blackbird is at the Hope Street Theatre from March 25-28. Tickets HERE