Written by non binary trans man Kae Tempest over the course of a single night, WASTED follows three old friends brought together by the death of a fourth. Charlotte, Ted and Dan confront the lives they imagined they would have, the lives they have ended up living, and the uncomfortable question of what happens when potential turns into regret.
For this new production, director John O’Neill places the audience in the round, surrounding the action with a world of speakers, amps, stereos and remnants of rave culture. The design draws on the energy of a generation shaped by nightlife, music and the promise of something more — while confronting the things that can leave us feeling, quite literally, wasted.
In a unique addition to the production, every performance will feature a different local spoken-word artist, creating a constantly changing live element and connecting Tempest’s poetry-driven writing with Manchester’s vibrant spoken-word scene.
Director John O’Neill said today: “I absolutely love the work of Kae Tempest. There’s such depth and humanity within everything they do, and that really sings to me. I feel strongly that WASTED will speak to Manchester audiences because, at its heart, it’s about friendship, ambition, regret, the things we leave behind and the lives we might have lived.
“The Kings is the perfect venue for us to bring this play to the city. It’s intimate, it’s tight, and it already has such a wonderful community of artists around it. I wanted the audience to feel like they’re right inside the world of the play, rather than simply watching it from the outside.
ALSO, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT HOLDERS OF CANAL ST CARD WILL ENJOY 15% OFF AT THE BAR ON EVERY VISIT.