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Haunted Man

9/21/2012

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The revisited and revamped I'M FRANK MORGAN debuted at The Octagon Theatre, Bolton on Friday 14th September and it's fair to say it was a success.  Great reviews so far and audience feedback shows Director Ian Curley's new vision of the character pleased the critics and the audiences.  The plan now is to bring the new version (a radical re-interpretation) to Salford, Manchester and beyond, so watch this space for updates.  I was aware of a clicking and snapping coming from somewhere in the audience - the culprit?  One MIKE CRAIG, of ZB Films, who had sneaked his Canon 5D MKII into the show, a few snaps from the production are below. 
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THE WATCHER: A Tale from Paradise Heights
This was of course a Tales from Paradise Heights Double Bill and the play was followed by a screening of the film THE WATCHER: A Tale from Paradise Heights.  The film revisits Frank and Paradise Heights on Halloween, 10 years after the events in the play.
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'The film, written and directed by O'Byrne, is superbly atmospheric, helped by Barry Thompson's music and beautiful photography from Colin Warhurst. There are great performances particularly from Ian Curley (who directed I'm Frank Morgan) as Marek and David Edward Robertson as homeless man Danny. A very interesting evening of theatre and film that would leave anyone wanting to know more about Paradise Heights, but not too keen to pay it a visit. O'Byrne and Curley seem to be a winning team.' David Chadderton, British Theatre Guide
Thanks to The Octagon Theatre and to a wonderful audience, we're looking forward to returning there in early 2013 with STRAWBERRY JACK: A Tale from Paradise Heights...watch this space...Joe x

DAVID O'BYRNE - British Body Building Champion, 2012
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My brother, DAVID O'BYRNE
Finally a MASSIVE and hearty congratulations to my brother, David, who  has just become British Bodybuilding Champion at the age of 50!  Losing five and a half stone since January this is a monumental achievement and testament to his determination and spirit of competitiveness.  The following is from The Chorley Guardian.

David, a company director, has lost five-and-a-half stone since January, and competed at qualifying events, followed by the British finals at the weekend.

He said:“I went on a strict diet to get ready for the competitions.

“It meant that I was not able to play rugby for a year. Some of my team-mates saw me recently and could not believe how different I was, and even asked if I was ill.

“I went to the qualifiers with a mohican and a Hulk Hogan moustache, because I did not expect to do anything in the Masters Over-50s.

“I knew I would be competing against people who have been doing it all their lives, so I did not expect to win.

“It was great to win, and then I went to the British event and won that too.

“I was hoping that my diet might have finished, but with all the competitions, it means that I am still training.”

David trains at the X-fit Gym, off Friday Street, in Chorley, and admits it has been tough challenge.

He said: “It has been difficult, especially when you have had no carbohydrates and trying to hold a meeting on a Monday morning.

“It makes me feel a little bit guilty when I think that, years ago, Dawn was training for events while she had to cook me my egg, bacon, sausage and then my bucket of Doritos, when she was drinking water and eating rice cakes.”

The full article from the paper is here, well done Dave, proud of you bro ;) xx
http://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/news/local/power-couple-have-flex-appeal-1-4937571

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To be Frank...

9/13/2012

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Just over a day to go till the premiere of the all new I'M FRANK MORGAN. 

This story has been done four times now, once as an award winning short film, and this is the plays third outing.  

Ian Curley has directed the play twice - this time being an all new vision of the play and character.  This is a Frank Morgan no one will have encountered before, taking the play into uncharted  territory, I'd love to say more but I really don't want to spoil it, I can't wait.

And don't forget this is a Double Bill with a showing of the short film THE WATCHER, after the play, a film that revisits Frank Morgan years after the events of the play.  Trtailers for the play and the film can be forund elsewhere on this website - or indeed in the blog updates below.

You can book tickets on The Octagon Theatre website or telephone 01204 520661, it would be lovely to see you...

You can also hear an interview about the production tonight on David Chadderton's excellent theatre show on Canal Side Radio on 102.8 FM at 9.30 tonight, thanks for the interview David :)
 

And finishing this update with a teaser for the upcoming new Tale from Paradise Heights, DIANE'S DELI, coming soon...Darren McGinn  has worked his magic and produced this excellent teaser poster for the play...

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Signing off and hope to see you Friday 14th September, 7.30 pm....

Joe x
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Destiny Turns On A Dime...

9/8/2012

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Have you ever read something, seen something, heard something that shook your very being?  Sent tingles down your spine?  Left your hairs standing on end?  Brought tears to your eyes?  Lifted you and spoke to your soul?  We all get moments like this in our lifetime and you can probably count them on one hand.  But...they happen for a reason.

I've had one of those moments today and it will stay with me, probably till I drop .  Where did it come from?  A film trailer.   

I've always had a philosphy, a belief that there is more to life than this.  A belief that the faces that are close to us in our lives are faces we have known before and faces we will know again. That this life is merely a link to the next life; and what we do in this life follows us into the next.  I've always felt this for as long as I can remember.  

That does not make me a crack pot, or a David Icke, it's just my own quiet belief, I don't force it on anyone else as anyone who knows me will know.  I'm a live and let live kinda bloke,, very positive and friendly guy. 

I expressed the belief I talk about above in a film I did at Salford Uni 13 years ago.  A supernatural thriller with a central love story, that film was called MYTH.   All I can say is five minutes of film have NEVER spoken to me like the five minutes of film below. 

I don't care if people think I'm losing my marbles, but I am so moved and fired up after that I can't tell you.  I'm bounc to be as it's my belief. 

What's really intersting is JIM STURGESS is in the film.  Jim Sturgess was in the original film version of I'M FRANK MORGAN, and I'm doing the play version of I'M FRANK MORGAN in less than 7 days time. 

I believe the greatest emotional times we have in our lives, those that enrich our lives and indeed those that scar us deeply; are ripples that travel outwards as we do. Like the trailer says 'ice skate scored into ice that we go over again and again', it's my belief that the love of your life will be found in the next one, and has come from the life before, I'm an incurable romantic on that score.  This life is merely a link to the next and what we do in this life follows us into the next, and that is all spoken in the trailer above.  I believe I found her in this life and lost her - incredibly damaging but equally helping me find a strength I never thought I had.  Maybe I'll find her again in this life, but if not the next. 

Or maybe I haven't even found her yet?  Regardless I carry on, and after today's 'moment' I have never felt so charged and full of life.  The same Joe, but on a mission like never before. 

Shirley the Angel's place in Paradise Heights is tapped into this philosphy, a philosphy I am further exploring in further tales from the Heights featuring her.  We have only seen a very small part of her journey through the plays so far. 

In the meantime, back to work, back to lines and rehearsals and to the play that started the whole TALES FROM PARADISE HEIGHTS bandwagon rolling...I'M FRANK MORGAN, hope to see you there on Friday night.  Joe x

Octagon Theatre Booking Site:
https://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/145/Im-Frank-Morgan/480
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COMPETITION: Win I'M FRANK MORGAN original artwork

9/7/2012

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Brian Gorman
Local artist BRIAN GORMAN has produced some stunning imagery over the years, including the upcoming graphic novel Joy Division: A Graphic History, the first in a groundbreaking series of graphic novel-style books coming soon that will take the reader through the heyday of the Manchester music scene, telling the history of three iconic groups - Joy Division, The Smiths and the Stone Roses.  So I was obviously thrilled when Brian approached me with an offer to draw the first couple of pages of a potential I'M FRANK MORGAN graphic novel.  Based on the first telling of the tale from a few years ago.   

The two A4 style pages are below, really capturing the atmosphere of that particular production, the new verison of the play premiering at The Octagon Theatre next Friday 14th September will be radically different, taking the play in a bold new path under IAN CURLEY's direction.  As you can see below, Brian has done a stunning job.  Well, the good news is one lucky individual will win the original framed artwork, signed by Brian and myself.  The winner will need to be part of the audience next week as I'll be presenting the artwork at the end of the evening to the winner. 

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I'm Frank Morgan (pg 1) Art: Brian Gorman, words: Joe O'Byrne
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I'm Frank Morgan (pg 2) Art: Brian Gorman, words: Joe O'Byrne
Here is a link to Brian's facebook art page where you will find a host of fantastic illustrations, give it a 'like' while you're there.  http://www.facebook.com/#!/BrianGormanIllustration

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is answer the question below and be part of the live audience at The Octagon Theatre, Bolton next Friday, 14th September.  A great Tales from Paradise Heights Stage & Screen Double Bill as the film THE WATCHER (written & directed by myself and again featuring Frank Morgan) will be shown after the play. 
Please either leave your answer with your full name at the end of this blog entry or email your answer to me along with your details to [email protected] 

The winning entry will be drawn from the pool of entry's live on the night, good luck!

Question:  What is the name of Frank Morgan's night club in Paradise Heights? 

You will find the answer elsewhere on this website, a site that's well worth looking around anyway ;)

So get along next Friday night, 7.30 pm, even those that have seen the play will be in for one helluva surprise/shock - this is a Frank Morgan no one has seen before.  You can book your tickets at the link below, hope to see you there, Joe x

I'M FRANK MORGAN/THE WATCHER, Octagon Theatre, Fri 14th September, 7.30 pm. Book yout tickets:
https://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/145/Im-Frank-Morgan/480
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    Joe O'Byrne

    Creator, Tales from Paradise Heights.  More info on the Joe O'Byrne page on this site

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