Canal Street Online Manchester

Be more Martyn at Hope Mill

Hope Theatre Company are bringing their new verbatim show, #BeMoreMartyn: The Boy with the Deirdre Tattoo, to Hope Mill Theatre this May to coincide with the anniversary of the Manchester Arena Bomb.

The play is about Martyn Hett who was one of the 22 people that lost their lives. Martyn was prolific in the gay village and had a huge warm personality. This new play celebrates the power of friendship and encourages audiences to live life to the full, to be proud of who you are and to #BeMoreMartyn.

After sell out performances in 2017, Hope Theatre Company return to Hope Mill to celebrate the life of Martyn Hett on the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing. 

#BeMoreMartyn trended on Twitter in the hours after the announcement of Martyn’s death – but what does it mean?

Hope Theatre Company asked eight of Martyn's closest friends and created a unique piece of verbatim theatre using their words. 

Adam Zane, Artistic Director of Hope said:

“As a gay man I saw how the LGBT community really felt they had lost someone who was a really important part of the community,” 

He added “It was important to celebrate his life. His family put us in touch with eight of his friend, ranging from school mates to people he went to university with and some he only knew for six months. The minute we started the interviews with them, it turned into a very different project. We are talking about eight friends coping with the loss of someone they loved.”

Martyn’s friends take us on a journey from the cobbles of Canal Street to his legendary Eurovision parties, celebrating Coronation Street, Mariah Carey and Michelle McManus along the way. 

Martyn’s outrageous and hilarious take on popular culture is brought to life on stage including his infamous Deirdre Barlow tattoo and the YouTube sensation that is The Audrey Roberts Noise.

Adam added: “At the beginning of this project, we didn’t quite understand the power of Martyn. Having spent weeks speaking to his friends and family, we were in awe of how he transformed people. He changed the life of everybody he met and has since influenced so many more.”

Watch our interview here.

LISTING INFORMATION

MANCHESTER

Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard St, Manchester M4 7JA

Tue 21 – Sat 26 May, 19:30 / Wed 23 & Sat 26 May, 14:00

BRIGHTON

The Warren, St Peter's Church North, York Place, Brighton BN1 4GU

Tue 29 & Wed 30 May, 18:45 / Thu 31 May, 23:30 / Fri 1 June 14:15

LONDON 

Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

Sun 3 June, 19:00

Read More

Published: 10-May-2018: (4866)

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