The Open Secret season at Abbeyfest began this week and continues for another 10 days with new writing, stand up comedy and devised theatre. Here, the director of Secret Centre Theatre, the company behind the festival, Dan Horrigan, gives us his lowdown on each piece and what to look out for.
Unrelated (written and directed by Horrigan)
"This is a Secret Centre Theatre production about a journalist under pressure to get a big story from her interviewee, a woman who is backing her husband despite him being accused of a bad crime. It looks at what happens to someone if their partner commits a terrible crime. We had our opening night on Monday and it went really well." August 6 to 9, 7.30pm, £10.
Predators (by Drs & Nurses)
"Drs & Nurses are a devised theatre company who are research based, meaning they interview people that work within the industry the piece revolves around and go from that. This piece is about a man and a woman with psychopathic traits and how people deal with that in society. There are two linked stories about Geoff, who terrorises people out at night, and Nicole, who took part in her partner's crimes." August 10 and 11, 7.30pm, £10.
This to This (Secret Centre Theatre)
"This is a piece of new writing by Jackie Kane that has been revived after a successful run in the past. It's about a couple whose relationship is disintegrating because of the credit crunch and family problems. It's a funny piece with lots of black caustic humour." August 10,11 and 15, 9pm, £10.
PqrtsU (by Feral Theatre)
"This is directed by Brian Astbury, who founded the first ever multi-racial theatre in South Africa. It's a devised show which examines what happens to people who are abused and how you can stop them from abusing others. He has been working on it with two actresses pretty intensely. August 11 and 12, 9pm and 13 and 16, 7.30pm, £10.
The Spooky Show (by Found Objects Band)
"This group of guys are hilarious. Their humour is quite unique, it's not ugly, just good natured and good humoured. They are influenced by Ken Dodd, The Goons and the League of Gentleman and backed by a comedy music troupe band so you get stand up and songs as well." August 15 and 16, 9pm.
To book tickets call 020 8542 5511 or visit abbeyfest.co.uk.
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