Road

Written by Jim Cartwright

July 12th - 25th 2009

Directed by Nathan Chapman

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AuthorJim Cartwright

Jim Cartwright is probably best known for his play 'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice', which he wrote for Jane Horrocks. It was first performed at the Royal National Theatre in 1992, and was made into a film which also starred Michael Caine, Ewan McGregor, Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent.

An actor before he became known as a playwright, Cartwright grew up in Lancashire and studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Bibliography

PlayHome

Road was Cartwright's first play, and won the George Devine Award, the Plays and Players Award and the Samuel Beckett Award. It was subsequentally adapted for television and broadcast on the BBC.

The play explores the lives of the people in a deprived, working class area of Lancashire during the government of Margaret Thatcher, a time of high unemployment in the north of England. Despite its explicit nature, it was considered extremely effective in portraying the desperation of people's lives at this time, as well as containing a great deal of humour. The play was voted the 36th best play of the 20th century in a poll by the Royal National Theatre.

The Bench Production

Characters

Crew

DirectorNathan Chapman
Producer
Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager