A MOSSLEY playwright is targeting more success with the opening of a new production.
Ian Townsend has already tasted success with a tour of his work All The Bens selling out venues across the north west, as well as one in London, and receiving the Greater Manchester Fringe Award for Best Drama.
Now he is hoping his efforts on My Favourite Place In The Whole Wide World receives similar acclaim.
And he has already secured a run at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre from Tuesday, March 1 to Sunday, March 6.
Ian’s latest ‘engaging and heartfelt’ work tells the story of Ruth and J, two people in search of love and purpose in a world of confusion and loss.
Audiences watch them grow from children to adults and see how they have been influenced by events and circumstances.
The production is also described as, ‘finding your place in the world and making unexpected connections.’
Ian, who lives on Andrew Street and was instrumental in their Christmas lights switch-on, is no stranger to success.
His other plays Being Amazing (The Octagon Bolton National Prize), The Lonely Walk Home (The BBC’s Alfred Bradley Bursary Award), The House in Sofia with a Map of its Surroundings (Kings Cross Award), Turn Around (BBC 3’s The Verb) and Granny Must Die (performed across the UK and in South Africa) have also been honoured.
Ruth will be played by Claire Eden, who has appeared in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, as well as several theatre productions.
J is played by Ben Kenzie, who is described as, ‘extremely excited to start working on My Favourite Place in the Whole Wide World as he has fallen madly in love with the piece since he first read it.’
Director James Schofield says he was, ‘attracted to the play by the mix of direct address to the audience and fast-paced dialogue, which keeps both the audience and the actors on their toes.’
As well as a reduced priced preview on Tuesday, March 1 and a matinee on Saturday, March 5, there will also be a post-show Q&A and a BSL interpreted performance at Hope Mill Theatre, which lies on Pollard Street in Manchester.