Photos from the rehearsal room reveal a first look at Up Down Big Man, a Myrtle Theatre Company and Wiltshire Creative production in association with The Wardrobe Ensemble, with in kind support from Bristol Old Vic.
The cast and creative team are rehearsing in Bristol and Salisbury ahead of the world premiere performance in the Salberg Studio at Salisbury Playhouse in October.
Following the critical success of Up Down Boy (2012) and Up Down Man (2016), Up Down BIG Man is the third in a trilogy of plays inspired by the life story of the gifted and charismatic performer Nathan Bessell.
- L-R Tom England, Heather Williams
- L-R Tom England, Heather Williams, Nathan Bessel, Tom Brennan
- L-R Rieko Kijima, Heather Williams, Tom Brennan
- L-R Heather Williams, Rieko Kijima
- L-R Tom Brennan, Rieko Kijima, Nathan Bessel
- L-R Heather Williams, Tom England, Nathan Bessel, Tom Brennan, Rieko Kijima
- L-R Nathan Bessel, Tom England
- L-R Alex Heane, Helena Seneca. Nathan Bessel
- L-R Heather Williams, Tom Brennan, Rieko Kijima
- L-R Heather Williams, Nathan Bessel, Tom Brennan, Rieko Kijima, Tom England
- L-R Rieko Kijima, Nathan Bessel, Tom Brennan, Helena Seneca
- L-R Nathan Bessel, Helena Seneca
- L-R Rieko Kijima, Nathan Bessel, Tom Brennan, Tom England, Heather Williams
- L-R Nathan Bessel, Tom Brennan, Helena Seneca
- L-R Tom England, Heather Williams
- L-R Tom England, Heather Williams
- L-R Tom England, Heather Williams, Nathan Bessel
- L-R Rieko Kijima, Heather Williams, Tom Brennan
- L-R Tom England, Heather Williams, Nathan Bessel, Tom Brennan
- L-R Heather Williams, Rieko Kijima
- L-R Tom Brennan, Rieko Kijima, Nathan Bessel
- L-R Heather Williams, Tom England, Nathan Bessel, Tom Brennan, Rieko Kijima
- L-R Tom England, Nathan Bessel, Heather Williams, Tom Brennan
- L-R Nathan Bessel, Tom England
- L-R Heather Williams, Tom Brennan, Rieko Kijima
The productions have emerged from a remarkable twenty-year collaboration between Nathan, who has learning disabilities, and Heather Williams, Artistic Director of Myrtle Theatre Company.
Up Down Boy (2012) was written by first-time writer Sue Shields, Nathan’s mother, with support from writer Catherine Johnson (Mamma Mia!) - about their extraordinary life together. Nathan played his on-stage alter ego, Matty, and Heather played the Mum. This groundbreaking production went on to tour nationally (including to the National Theatre) and internationally. Up Down Man (2016), written by Brendan Murray, was equally successful and explored what happens to Matty when he loses a parent.
In Up Down BIG Man, Nathan returns to play his on-stage alter ego Matty in a play full of wit, anarchy and heart.
There comes a time in every young man’s life when he has to leave home. For Matty, it’s forty! He really is a big man. But with his mother gone, and his dad moving on, what’s next for Matty? He needs support, but what is the best form of care for him? How can he be independent and safe?
And as he leaves the sanctuary of his house for the final time, is there space in the boxes for his most treasured possession?
The Up Down Trilogy gives a unique insight into the social history of a person with Down syndrome and the artistic development of an actor with a learning disability. Up Down BIG Man can be watched as a standalone production, but audiences who have seen the other two plays will be fascinated to see what happens next in this unusual but strangely familiar story.
Heather Williams, Artistic Director, Myrtle Theatre Company, said: “Nathan brings an incredible truth and joy to his performance. Add members of the award-winning Wardrobe Ensemble into the mix with the talents of other creatives and the result is quite magical and thrilling. I am so excited to share Up Down BIG Man with audiences. It’s promising to be as hilarious and moving as its predecessors and I guarantee you won’t see anything else quite like it!”
Up Down BIG Man has been researched in collaboration with the Bessell family and Keynsham and District Mencap.
Helena Seneca directs Nathan Bessell as Matty, performing with an ensemble cast of Tom Brennan, Tom England, Reiko Kijima and Heather Williams.
Up Down BIG Man is devised and written by Nathan Bessell, Tom Brennan, Tom England, Heather Williams and Helena Seneca. Up Down BIG Man is presented in loving memory of Sue Shields (Bessell).
Premiering at Salisbury Playhouse Salberg Studio, Up Down BIG Man can be seen in Salisbury from Wednesday 7 – Saturday 17 October, and at Bristol Old Vic Weston Studio from Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 October.
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