Press Release: Theatre Takeover at Brewery & Tap

On the 27th January, local theatre-makers will turn the Upper Room at Doncaster Brewery & Tap into a miniature theatre, showcasing a sneak peek of their upcoming work.

A Doncastrian and a Mancunian have teamed up to create a piece of new theatre that they hope to stage later this year. “We need to get more actors on board,” says Doncaster writer and composer Holl Morrell, “but for now we want to just give the audience a little taste of the show.”

It’s not their first time treading the boards - Morrell composed “Boris - the Musical!” which came to Cast last summer, and as part of the same show, actress Liz Kearney was described as “scarily accurate” in her portrayal of Michael Gove. This new show, directed by Kearney, is a different kettle of fish. Based on the true story of an inventor who becomes a little too obsessed with his work; “it’s not as slapstick as Boris”, muses Morrell, “but it’s still laced with gentle humour. We like to break the fourth wall”.

The play tells the story behind the invention of modern rubber. Today, we associate Charles Goodyear with the tyre company that was named in his honour, but actually he discovered the vulcanisation process. His life’s work turned the sticky sludge of natural rubber into a useful product that has revolutionised industries around the world. But his journey was far from easy. Through theatre, humour, and song, "The Black Stuff" tells the story of how a bankrupt button-maker became one of the most important inventors of all time - and the terrible price he paid for it.

“The real strength of this show is the music”, says Kearney, “so we’re going to perform the songs, along with a bit of the narrative arc. You’ll get a taste of what’s to come, but it’s not the full show yet”.

The work-in-progress sharing takes place on Saturday 27th January at 7.30pm in the Upper Room at Doncaster Brewery & Tap. Entry is free, with a voluntary cash collection at the end, and audience members are warmly invited to contribute ideas and feedback.
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Seats are limited, so to guarantee a place, please RSVP at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/songs-from-the-show-tickets-41184879082?aff=es2
Find out more at the website, www.lionesstheatre.uk, or watch a video about the project here.