Features

Five Reasons To See….The Devil Has Quentin’s Heart

This Spring, Benji Reid’s Manchester-based company Breaking Cycles return with their hard-hitting show: The Devil has Quentin’s Heart. Here, performer Benji Reid gives us his five reasons why you should catch the show in Manchester at Contact.


1. It’s inspired by a great novel
The whole show was inspired by the novel Iced by the phenomenally multi-talented Ray Shell. Ray worked alongside Director Peader Kirk and I to create a moving and poetic script that fuses together all of the other elements of the show.

2. Quentin is a great character to play
One of the main themes of the show is about how power corrupts and how one’s morals can be corroded by it. For me though it’s also ultimately about redemption and misplaced love. Bringing out those different aspects really allows me to stretch myself as a performer.

3. It’s visually stunning
Paul Colley’s breathtaking lighting instantly transports us into Quentin’s emotional world. It can be a dark and scary place, but there’s real warmth there as well.

4. It’s an emotional rollercoaster
Quentin’s world may be dark but it’s filled with pathos and there are moments of real comedy. Even though he might be walking the wrong path you still sympathise with him through all of his highs and lows.

5. It’ll have you tapping your feet in the aisles
Andrew Wong has created a wonderfully evocative soundtrack including tracks by Al Green, Prince and Stevie Wonder. The music pulls us straight into Quentin’s world and really helps to capture the mood of key turning points in his life.


The Devil Has Quentin’s Heart is at Contact, Manchester on 2 March. For further tour dates and more information, please visit Breaking Cycles website.