Directed by Lisa May
"A glorious, vivid play full of verbal swagger... creates vast emotional ripples...lethal" The Guardian
Owen McCafferty’s play Mojo Mickybo is about a friendship between two boys growing up in Belfast – a friendship that at first is immune to the sectarian violence taking place around them, but which nonetheless is ultimately destroyed by it.
The play's action is set in Belfast over the summer of 1970. Mojo and his mate Mickybo are two nine-year-old boys from opposing sides of the sectarian divide. They are 'thick as two small thieves', playing headers, being mouthy, building huts, and spitting from cinema balconies. The action is played as theatrical flashback, often inhabiting a world of fantasy, such as re-enacting their favourite film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The two performers constantly slip in and out of roles and imaginary worlds, with the violence of The Troubles only obliquely impacting on them – until finally their friendship is destroyed in a way that they only later come to understand.
“The reason the play is seen through the eyes of children is that I wanted to show the absurdity of sectarianism. And I thought the best way to do that was through the innocence of children.” - Owen McCafferty
This is pure storytelling with Bruiser’s dynamic physicality, providing opportunity for a new generation of theatre-goers to experience Belfast’s most treasured, living playwright, and to consider that Mojo and Mickybo represent the division of a benighted country that has spent a century at war with itself.
Contains Strong Language
"This is a piece of theatre that deserves the biggest of audiences." - Cathy Brown, No More Workhorse
Bruiser Theatre Company is one of Northern Ireland’s most vibrant and successful arts organisations. Founded in 1997 and based in Belfast, Bruiser produces theatre that is exciting and innovative, down to earth and accessible to all. We're committed to providing high impact theatre experiences for our audiences in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and further afield.
Bruiser aims to use minimal set for maximum impact, whilst further exploring the notion of the actor as the centre of the action, enforcing them as the main mechanism of performance. This approach is echoed in all of their productions, and is the central artistic premise in all our work.
Inspiring the next generation of talent is a core part of their vision. Bruiser are dedicated to providing training and development opportunities to young actors through our education and outreach programmes A Day With Bruiser and The Arts Academy.
www.bruisertheatrecompany.com
Tickets: £12 in theatre/ £10 online (available to watch back for 7 days)
