Bunker Theatre announces summer 2018 season

The Bunker has announced a new season of work, including the winners of Breaking Out, a new initiative championing ambitious and innovative new theatre companies.

The season will commence with Don't Panic! It's Challenge Anneka by On The Button. Running from 29 May to 9 June, Sophie Winter stars in this one-woman play about overcoming anxiety.

From 11 June to 7 July, Breaking Out will feature six new plays chosen from 45 entries. The selected shows are Poke in the Eye and Amy Bethan Evans' Libby's Eyes about a young woman navigating a world she can't see. Sleepless Theatre presents Alex Wood's Nine Foot Nine set in a world in which self-identifying women suddenly grow to nine foot nine inches. No One is Coming to Save You from This Noise and written by Nathan Ellis is about a young woman's tragic event inspired by the film adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda.

In Peter Imms' Section 2, Paper Creatures examine the life of a young man who is sectioned. Second Circle Theatre presents an interactive date night in Kiss Chase, which is devised by the company. Finally, leoe&hyde's Guy is a new musical about the intricacies of Grindr and gay dating in Manchester. The piece has music by Stephen Hyde with lyrics and book by Leoe Mercer.

The season will conclude with George Jaques' Breathe from 31 July to 5 August. Directed by Hannah Hauer-King, the play explores six young people impacted by teenage suicide and is presented in partnership with ChildLine.

Bunker's artistic director Joshua McTaggart said: "From established ensembles to emerging artists, summer at The Bunker will see an incredible range of performances, styles, and ideas all presented by groups who collaborate and create their work together.

"At the centre of this programming are the six winners of our Breaking Out project. These six companies are just at the beginning of their journeys, but the work they are planning to create is sharp, contemporary, and ambitious, and I know our audiences are going to be fascinated by the stories these young artists have to tell."