Following the sellout success of Brink in 2015, The Royal Exchange Young Company return to The Studio with the World Premiere of Nothing, by Amanda Dalton adapted from the novel by Janne Teller. This powerful and unsettling story is critically acclaimed and read across the world despite being banned in many schools and libraries when first published. The Royal Exchange’s brand new adaptation will be directed by Bryony Shanahan who returns following her role as associate director on The Skriker. A young cast bring this challenging play to audiences between 14 – 17 April 2016.
When teenager Pierre Anthon suddenly announces that nothing in life has meaning, his friends decide to prove him wrong. Fearful he might in fact be right, their desperate actions spiral out of control and lead to terrifying consequences.
Amanda Dalton is a poet and playwright. She writes extensively for BBC Radio 4 and 3 with work including radical adaptations of the silent films The Cabinet of Dr Caligari and Nosferatu. Her poetry collections How To Disappear and Stray are published by Bloodaxe. For the Royal Exchange she has previously adapted David Almond’s Secret Heart and Jackie Kay’s Strawgirl and premiered two original dramas for young people, Dog Boy and Powder Monkey. She is currently Director of Engagement at the Royal Exchange and a visiting tutor in the Writing School at MMU.
The Royal Exchange Young Company comprises of 140 young people aged 14-21. Members are provided with a wide variety of opportunities to learn about the industry and develop skills in one of six groups: Associates, Creatives, Communicators, Performers, Technicians and Writers all groups have been involved with the process of bringing Nothing to the stage. Previously the Young Company has had great success with their sellout production Brink and Flicker And The Flying Books a collaboration with theatre’s Elders Company.
Nothing is performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre 14-17 April 2016. Tickets £10 (concessions £6)
Royal Exchange Theatre. image credit University of Salford Press Office/flickr under creative commons licence.
