Waterside Arts Centre and Creative Industries Trafford are pleased to announce the winner of their prestigious Independent Theatre Commission is Manchester-based writer and performance poet Thick Richard.
Thick Richard (Matthew Duffy) is a born and bred Mancunian who has developed his craft of ‘punk poetry’ over the last 16 years performing at festivals, cabaret nights, poetry events and comedy gigs. Matthew will be developing his very first full-length solo show Swear School, which will premiere at Waterside Arts Centre in October 2016. Swear School will be a funny and informative exploration of the origins, history and definitions of the language of swearing through the mediums of comedy, poetry and puppets.
As well as securing a three-night run for the show at Waterside Arts Centre in October, Matthew will also receive £2000 to produce the play, along with mentoring support from venue staff and the Chambers Studio Producer. Previous winners include Four Shadows Theatre, Mighty Heart Theatre, Checkshirt Theatre Company and Square Peg Theatre.
Matthew said of the opportunity “Swear School will be an informative, funny, foul-mouthed education in the language of swearing, helped by a cast of sinister puppets… like Sesame Street for adults! I’ve been performing comedy, poetry and spoken word with rubbish puppets at cabaret, comedy nights, music venues and festivals for over a decade now, so I’m delighted to be working at the Waterside Arts Centre on what will be my first full show.”
Swear School will run from Thursday 20 – Saturday 22 October in the Chambers studio at Waterside Arts Centre.
