Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me heads to Edinburgh
2022 June 10We're thrilled to be taking Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me, our co-production with KETCHUP productions and supported by Richard Jordan Productions, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.
After wowing sold-out audiences during preview performances on our main stage in February, we're so thrilled to now be taking Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me to the Pleasance Dome at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We have been developing the show over the last few months and with a refreshed script, updated staging and new additions to the creative team, we now can't wait to present the world premiere of this new play.
Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me is written by award-winning writer Philip Stokes. It’s the story of a strange boy called Daniel Valentine, the ultimate superfan whose life has been devoted to his two favourite things, Jesus… and Jane. Daniel’s mother is a superfan too, until one day her actions cause it all to go horribly wrong. This darkly funny and moving piece of new writing, cruising with Northern heart and packed full of emotional grit, asks if old wounds can ever truly be healed?
Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me is the latest addition to our portfolio of productions, following on from our successful range of digital productions including New York Times Critic’s Picks What A Carve Up! and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Since reopening to live audiences we have also produced shows in partnership with award-winning choreographer Gary Clarke and bold ambitious theatre company ThickSkin. The latter production, Blood Harmony, can also be seen at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August, as it makes its national debut at the Traverse Theatre.
The world premiere of Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me puts a piece of new outstanding local theatre alongside our peers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Our mission at Lawrence Batley Theatre is to nurture local artists and develop them to achieve on a national stage, that's why we’re so proud to be taking this new play by a Yorkshire based writer to the audiences of the biggest arts festival in the world. We’re also excited to be supporting Wakefield based KETCHUP productions in their development as a new producing organisation as well as working with emerging Yorkshire actor Jack Stokes who will be making his Edinburgh Festival Fringe and professional debut as Daniel Valentine.
Writer Philip Stokes’ previous critically acclaimed plays include Heroin(e) For Breakfast (Underbelly 2009/Pleasance, 2019), Uber Hate Gang (Underbelly, 2010) and My Filthy Hunt (Underbelly, 2011). His work has had sell out runs across the globe and won awards including the Fringe Review Outstanding Theatre Award and the Adelaide Holden Street Theatre Award. Philip's work has been critically acclaimed, gaining five star reviews from international press and delighting audiences worldwide and he is recognised by the British Library as a Culturally Important Playwright of the Twenty-First Century.
KETCHUP productions are creators of theatre and cabaret based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Led by emerging producer Ryan Hogan, they produce performance that is sweet, tangy and a little bit messy. Passionate about telling marginalised stories, KETCHUP are interested in creating work with LGBTQ+ artists based in the North of England who want to make performance that is bold, brave and boundary-pushing. KETCHUP productions have previously produced KETCHUP cabaret, a queer performance night in the city of Leeds. Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me marks KETCHUP’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe producing debut.
Richard Jordan Productions is an Olivier, TONY, and EMMY Award-winning production company based in London under the artistic leadership of British producer Richard Jordan. Described by The Stage newspaper as “one of the UK’s most prolific theatre producers”, Richard, along with his company, have been at the forefront of developing and/or commissioning works often with a strong social and political agenda. A new writing and musical theatre specialist, past productions have won over 60 major awards including the TONY Award for Best Play.
Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me is a twisted coming-of-age story that looks at how hard life can be when you’re a little bit “different”. It explores idolisation, loneliness, young people’s mental health and the complex relationship between mother & son. It’s a tragicomedy that’s packed full of breaking-down-the-fourth-wall theatrical dynamism and powerful new writing that's both hilarious and heart-wrenching. The creative team includes set & lighting design by Craig Lomas (Heroin(e) For Breakfast) and sound design by Annie May Fletcher (Hedwig & The Angry Inch - Leeds Playhouse/HOME Manchester).
Becky Atkinson, our Interim Chief Executive Officer says "We're so excited to be showcasing what regional theatre can do on such a large and prestigious stage as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Lawrence Batley Theatre is a locally rooted theatre with national ambition, it's so fantastic to have the opportunity to be taking a show produced right here in Yorkshire to audiences from far and wide."
Philip Stokes, writer and director says "I'm thrilled to be heading back to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. After a successful revival of Heroin(e) for Breakfast at the Pleasance in 2019, it's great to be returning with a brand-new show. After the last couple of years it's been fantastic to have the chance to write and direct a new production with the support of Lawrence Batley Theatre, KETCHUP & Richard Jordan, and I can't wait for audiences to see it."
Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me will be at the Pleasance Dome (Ace Dome) from 3 - 29 August, 1.10pm. Click here to book your tickets.