In 2017, Young Vic Taking Part took the Young Vic’s production of The Brothers Size, by Moonlight writer Tarell Alvin McCraney, into HMP Wandsworth. The workshops led by Liverpool-born playwright Luke Barnes and director Justin Audibert which followed resulted in a brand-new piece of theatre – The Jumper Factory – developed with eight Wandsworth prisoners.
Exploring universal themes such as family, masculinity and redemption, the show told the prisoners’ stories of their experience behind bars, and the resilience they needed to face a world that moves on without them. Following the run at HMP
Wandsworth, the show went on to a UK tour, including a sell-out run at the Young Vic in London. Two years on, a new production is coming to HOME in Manchester with two new cast members joining four of the original company.
Joe Haddad and Rasaq Kukoyi join original members Ayomide Adegun, Jake Mills, Pierre Moullier and Raphael Gwilliams-Akuwudike – all of whom have experience of the criminal justice system, and all of whom have little or no professional acting experience – in a production which will be staged for prisoners in HMP Brixton and HMP Wandsworth in early September, before playing at HOME Manchester between Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 September.
Two of the original cast, Rushand Chambers and Tej Obano, have gone on to further professional work – Rushand Chambers is in the UK touring cast of Disney’s The Lion King, whilst Tej Obano was cast in David Hare’s The Permanent Way at the Vaults in London.
The Jumper Factory was conceived by Young Vic Taking Part and Justin Audibert, written by Luke Barnes and directed by Josh Parr, with sound design by Mike Winship, lighting design by Jess Glaisher, and costume design by Catherine Kodicek.
PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
Tue 10 September 2019, 19:45, plus post-show cast and crew Q&A
Wed 11 September 2019, 19:45 (press night performance)
Thu 12 September 2019, 14:15 and Thu 12 September 2019, 19;45
Fri 13 September 2019, 19:45
Sat 14 September 2019, 14:15 and Sat 14 September 2019, 19.45
TICKETS £12.50 (concessions £5 – £10.50)
