Preview: Edgecity @ Live Theatre, Newcastle (25-27/09)

Photo By Jack Neville

Jason Williamson of Sleaford Mods makes a rare live stage appearance at Newcastle’s Live Theatre this September, lending his unmistakable voice to Edgecity—a bold new series of monologues exploring homelessness, written by North East ‘brokenword’ formerly homeless artist gobscure.

Known for gritty lyricism and a growing screen presence (Peaky Blinders, Landscapers), Williamson now takes to the theatre in person to perform gobscure’s urgent, poetic texts—titles include Mind The Reality Gap, Die Like Chekhov and the Brecht-inspired yu cant start revolutions sitting on yr arse. It’s theatre that pulls no punches, rooted in lived experience and radical thinking.

This is Williamson’s first live collaboration with Jack McNamara, Artistic Director of Live Theatre, following previous work together on Alan Moore’s Voice of the Fire audiobook and a limited vinyl release on Purgexxx Records. Joining them on stage will be gobscure and turntablist Mariam Rezaei, whose experimental soundscapes promise to amplify the show’s raw edge.

Jack McNamara adds, “Every Sleaford Mods song is like a perfect  play in miniature so I couldn’t think  of anyone better to have acting on our stage. However given the accomplishment of Jason’s own lyrics I knew I had to match him with a writer who was as radical and original, and gobscure is exactly that.  gobscure’s playwrighting is far more than theatre, just as Sleaford Mods are more than music. I’m also thrilled (and tickled) at the idea of Jason sharing the stage with our great noise turntablist Mariam Rezaei. Things are going to take a beautifully noisy turn.”

Edgecity runs from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 September, 7.30pm. Tickets available via the Live Theatre website.