Marie Jones’ A NIGHT IN NOVEMBER opens at Chiswick Playhouse this week
A Night in November, written by award-winning playwright Marie Jones OBE (Stones In His Pockets) opens at Chiswick Playhouse on 11 August, running until 3 September.
Directed by Matthew McElhinney and starring Matthew Forsythe, this funny, fast moving, passionate and heartbreaking show tells the story of Kenneth McCallister. Kenneth is a lower middle class Belfast Protestant who works as a West Belfast Dole Clerk. Kenneth has followed all the rules. He loved who he was supposed to love. He lived where he was expected to live. He fought who he was taught to fight.
His world is turned upside down when he attends a World Cup qualifying football match in Windsor Park, Belfast, between Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Ireland. He is horrified to hear his father in law leading the sectarian chants against the Republic Of Ireland team and in response he throws caution to the wind, and heads to Dublin airport, to go with Jackie’s Army to New York to support the Republic Of Ireland team on their journey in the World Cup.
That is … until one night … a night in November … when he did the most exciting, outrageous, crazy, mad thing he's ever done !
Writer Marie Jones said: "The actor, director and producer of this production of A Night in November were not even teenagers when this play was first performed. The fact that more than 25 years on it still resonates with them is humbling and the passion they bring to re-staging it for another generation is incredibly exciting.
“This show is one of the best to come from our wee country. Now 25 years after the events and more recently after brexit, parts of Northern Ireland believe they are more British than those in Chiswick or Finchley. Identity is still at the fore in Northern Ireland and reactions to the Ni protocol shows it can’t be taken for granted but I believe through dialogue it is possible to change.”
Actor Matthew Forsythe added: “ Performing this one man show has been one of the most rewarding challenges of my career. To multi-role 20 characters and bring London audiences into Kenneth's world for two hours is a privilege and experience I’ll never forget. “
For more information and to book tickets, please click here.