A Royal Exchange Elders Company production

A Funny Thing Happened In Isolation

Narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh

  • Created by Andy Barry with the Elders Company
  • 1 October 2020 - 31 December 2020
  • On Tour / External

CAUTION: the following programme contains themes of silliness and irreverence which some viewers may find funny

As the country went into lockdown in March 2020, cameras began following a small theatre troupe in Greater Manchester to see how they would adapt to the ‘new normal’.

Group member Joan lives with her brother Maurice and together they have easily adapted to life on Zoom.

Emerging theatre director Natalie, ambitiously sets out to rehearse her age-inclusive production of Romeo and Juliet while partners Deidre and Mike are determined to bring the magic of a ‘night out at the theatre’ into their own home.

But, as time marches on, can theatre member Fiona hold it all together and will newcomer Jim finally learn what ‘the theatre’ is?

Narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh and released via the theatre’s YouTube on Thursday 1 October, to coincide with the internationally recognised Older People’s Day, this funny, gentle, slightly ridiculous love-letter to the theatre has been written and directed by Andy Barry and created with the Elders Company.

  • Event Information

  • TIME & DATE:  10am, Thursday 1 October

    TICKET PRICES: FREE - However, if you would like to make a donation to our Theatre - we would be very grateful. DONATE - why we need your support. #rxconnect

    AUDIO-DESCRIPTION:  The audio-described version of this production can be viewed here

  • Creative Team

  • CREATIVE TEAM

    ANDY BARRY Writer and Director

    LIAM STEERS Director of Photography / Editor

    BILL CONNOR Composer

    With special thanks to guest stars JULIE HESMONDHALGH and FAITH YIANNI

    CAST

    MALCOM ALLUM Derek 

    GILL BASSAM Deidre 

    STEVE BASSAM Mike 

    MAGGIE BELL Kathy / Reporter 

    YVONNE BREMER Valerie

    ANN COLE Fiona 

    CAROLE DAVIS Joan

    CATHERINE FOULKES Elizabeth

    JULIE HESMONDHALGH Voiceover

    BRIAN HOLMES Trevor 

    ANDREW HUSBAND Maurice 

    THOMAS MULDOON David

    ERIC NORTHEY Jeremy 

    PETE SHOTTON Jim 

    ELENA STANISCIA Helen 

    MARALYN TOHILL Mary 

    JUDITH WOOD Announcer

    FRED YEOMANS Jack 

    FAITH YIANNA Natalie 

    JARVIS Cat

    ELDERS GRADUATES

    Liz Aniteye, Susan Baker, Helen Brown, Tony Cocker, Val Collier, Bill Connor, Jackie Corr, Gordon Emerson, Annie Giles Quinn, Graham Gillis, Norman Goodman, Jacquie Long, Estelle Longmore, Christine Ovens, Sandy Parkinson, Lorraine Reynolds, Doreen Robinson, David Weston and Jean Wood

  • Accessible Performances

  • AUDIO DESCRIBED FILM

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    AUDIO DESCRIBED FILM

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