Ian Dury Play Hits Two North West Venues

Jeff Merrifield‘s exploration of the life of The Blockhead’s lead singer Ian Dury – Hit Me! visits Salford and Liverpool over the next couple of months. This warts-and-all portrait tours direct from its second West End season, exploring the highs and lows of Ian Dury’s extraordinary career and inspirational life story. The show features many of his best known songs performed live, including “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”, “Sweet Gene Vincent”, and “Reasons To Be Cheerful.”

Publicly, Ian Dury was a cheeky chappie and purveyor of saucy lyrics. Privately, he was a flawed maestro wrestling with demons and disability. This drama sees him reunited with his tour manager, minder and friend Fred ‘Spider’ Rowe, blending amazing music with powerful scenes exploring Dury’s incredible triumph over adversity.

The play is written and directed by Merrifield, with Katherine Hare as Associate director. The cast features Mark White as Ian Dury and Josh Darcy as Fred ‘Spider’ Rowe. The set is designed by Hilary Statts with lighting by Phil Spencer Hunter.

Hit Me! The Life and Rhymes Of Ian Dury runs at the Lowry on 22 October and at the Liverpool Everyman from 9 – 12 November.