The Butcher's Bill - Opens 11th June

Our very own Ken Reay debuts his new play at Westoe on the 11th June. Limited tickets are still available from behind the bar.

Tour Dates:
South Shields & Westoe Club Monday 11th June 7.30pm

Customs House South Shields Thursday 14th, Friday 15th & Saturday 16th June 7.30pm (2.30pm Saturday)

Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st June 7.30pm

Arts Centre Washington Friday 22nd June 7.30pm

The Exchange North Shields Saturday 23rd June 7.30pm

Press Release May 2018
The Butcher’s Bill
The Canny Craic Theatre Company presents The Butcher’s Bill a play by Ken Reay directed by Jamie Brown on tour from Monday June 11th 2018 with venues in South Shields, Washington, Newcastle and North Shields.

Val McGregor from Canny Craic describes the play as a story about 3 men, each with stories to tell: some true; some false and some exaggerated. All are trying to escape from No Man’s Land in France during the 1st World War. “The play is essentially a very black comedy of survival in extreme circumstances. All three men could have avoided ‘joining up’ through age, health and mental issues but chose to fight because of family pressure, atavistic urges; and in one case, sheer innocent ignorance.”

Writer Ken Reay said, “A version of this play was staged at The Customs House in South Shields in 2006 and was very well received and I decided to re-write it in the light of feedback from that production plus the chance to work with Jamie Brown as Director. His comments and ideas have been invaluable. He has also assembled a brilliant cast of multi-talented actors broadening the scope of play; and setting me exciting challenges!”

Jamie Brown, the project’s Director said, “I can’t wait to get into the room and begin throwing The Butcher’s Bill around. We have a taut, pressure-cooker script, depicting an intriguing catch-22 situation comprising of three vivid characters - all with their own flaws - being portrayed by three of the most accomplished actors in the region. It has the potential to be really great. We’re visiting some fab regional venues with a locally produced show which, these days, is also so important for the cultural fabric of the area, and I’m delighted to be part of that.”

Even as a relatively new company Canny Craic have successfully toured several historical, fact based, ‘workshops’ with Heritage Lottery and Barbour Foundation funding. But sponsorship for the Butcher’s Bill project is by a box office split with the venues and from Vic Young Garages who are providing their transport. It will be followed by another HLF and Barbour Foundation funded tour of ‘workshops’ with actors, based on World War 1 with the culmination being at The Word in South Shields on Armistice Sunday.

Canny Craic Theatre Company – Canny Craic Website office@cannycraic.com

Producer Val McGregor 07963 493846
Writer Ken Reay 07951 092115
Director Jamie Brown 07909 031717

Updated 17:15 - 30 Aug 2019 by dave barnes