Moorhouse in Cartwight's Two at RET, 17 Jan Date: 12 January 2012
Manchester comedian and actor Justin Moorhouse returns to the Royal Exchange Theatre to star in Jim Cartwight’s warm-hearted comedy Two which opens next week.
Written in 1989, Two is set ‘somewhere in the North’. The action centres on a landlord and landlady who welcome the audience into their pub along with the colourful collection of people who make it their local. Witty, stunning and sad, the play explores all the stages of love. This stunning theatrical tour-de-force sees a cast of two play a total of fourteen characters.
Last seen in the Exchange’s much-acclaimed 2010 Christmas show Zack, Moorhouse has previous acting credits which also include Phoenix Nights and Ken Loach’s film Looking For Eric. He is also a regular on the national comedy circuit.
He appears alongside Victoria Ellliott, whose previous Exchange credits include Audrey in As You Like It. Other recent theatre work includes Oh What A Lovely War! and The Wind In The Willows (Northern Stage).
Born in Farnworth near Bolton, Jim Cartwright trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama but it is as a playwright that he made his mark. His first play Road, won a number of awards before being adapted for TV and broadcast by the BBC.
He is probably best known for the film Little Voice, whose cast included Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine, Ewan McGregor, Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent. The script was based on his play, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which he wrote for Jane Horrocks - first performed at the Royal National Theatre in 1992. Both Road and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice have also produced with great success at the Exchange.
Royal Exchange Artistic Director Greg Hersov is on directing duties, folowing recent success with Pygmalion and Zack.
He says: “Two is a truly magical piece of theatre. Hilariously funny, touching and tender, passionate and poetic, it’s about something we can all relate to. We all start our lives as one and spend the rest of it exploring and discovering what it takes to be two. The play looks at love across the generations.
“I’m a huge admirer of Jim’s work. For me he has one of the most distinctive, original voices in British theatre – with his way with words, rhythm and imagery. He has had a long association with the Exchange and we look forward to starting the year celebrating his talent.”
The creative team is completed by Amanda Stoodley (design), Chris Davey (lighting) and Steve Brown (sound) and Two runs at the Royal Exchange from 17 January - 25 February, 2012.
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