A homegrown play which debuts at the Greater Manchester Fringe will land in Eccles later this week for the delectation of local theatre lovers.
‘Like There’s No One Looking’, written by Elaine McCann, took the award for Best Production at last week’s Wilmslow Drama Festival.
After a two-day run at Albert’s Chophouse in Albert Square, Manchester, on Monday and Tuesday this week, it arrives at Smiths Restaurant on Church Street in Eccles for Wednesday 6 July and Thursday 7 July.
And there’s award-winning talent on stage as well.
Sisters Elaine Hayton and Val Ridings from the Barton Theatre Company have hit double top in two recent drama festivals.
Elaine won ‘Best Supporting Actress’ award as Nurse Nisbett in Barton’s production of Dracula in the Wakefield Drama Festival last month – and now Val’s joined her sister at the top by winning ‘Best Performance’ in Wilmslow.
‘Like There’s No One Looking’ introduces us to Josie, who lives in a care home and whose memory isn’t what it once was.
But music brings back memories of the dances she did with the men she loved, and unearths a long buried secret in Josie’s life.
Val, who plays Josie, said: “Of course I’m thrilled to bits to win the Best Performance award, who wouldn’t be, but any production is a huge team effort and this team onstage and behind the scenes worked incredibly hard to bring the piece together.
“We’ve had amazing audience reaction and feedback from the two performances we’ve already done and now were taking it to new audiences.”
Writer, Elaine McCann told SalfordOnline.com: “I’ve been interested for some time in the work that’s being done on the effect music and dancing has on people living with dementia.
“It’s not a new idea, there’s research available from the 1980s but, right now, it’s being seen as not just a helpful therapy – but also as a really enjoyable experience.”
1 Church Road, Eccles M30 0DL (next to railway Station)
Wednesday / Thursday 6th and 7th July at 8.15pm
Tickets £5.00 Ring 0161 788 7343 to book
