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Watch THE WATCHER: A Halloween Tale from Paradise Heights...

10/30/2012

BOYS AND GIRLS OF EVERY AGE...
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING STRANGE...?

Getting in the HALLOWEEN spirit at Tales from Paradise Heights so for the next 24 hours you can watch THE WATCHER: A Tale from Paradise Heights for free, please feel free to share the film and we'd appreciate it if you did! Check elsewhere on this site for all about the making of the film - there's a real mood and atmosphere to this film, shot beautifully and some cracking perfomances.

You can also check out BEN MOTTERSHEAD's excellent documentary on the making of the film.

Leave us your feedback, we'd love to hear what you think...

EVERYBODY SCREAM! EVERYBODY SCREAM!
IN OUR TOWN OF HALLOWEEN....PARADISE HEIGHTS

Image: Darren McGinn

Click on the link below to watch THE WATCHER

The password is thewatcher

http://thewatcherfilm.blogspot.co.uk/

BEN MOTTERSHEAD's excellent documentary

BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE WATCHER
http://thewatcherfilm.blogspot.co.uk/p/behind-scenes.html

FEEL FREE TO SHARE AND FEEDBACK! THANKS...

Joe and the TALES FROM PARADISE HEIGHTS CREW
And why not finish with a bit of MARILYN MANSON -
This is HALLOWEEN!

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I'M FRANK MORGAN Roars out of The Black Lion, Salford...

10/29/2012

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I'm delighted to announce that I'M FRANK MORGAN (the play) will be playing THE BLACK LION, in the JOHN COOPER CLARK Studio, for three nights from Thursday 15th November through till Saturday 17th November @ 8:00 pm.

The first tale to come from Tales from Paradise Heights, it's a fantastic introduction to the series and the events portrayed here continue to echo throughout the other tales. The resident 'bad guy' casts a long shadow over The Heights. A very familiar figure to fans of the series, and he's been played by myself and the very versatile Ian Curley. There will be many that will have seen the original interpretation of this at The Lowry in 2010, directed by Ian Curley.

However for 2012, Ian has taken a fundamental re-approach to the character and the play; this version debuted at The Octagon Theatre in September to truly fantastic reviews. I wrote this play whilst I was a student at Salford University - and the City of Salford has had a massive influence on the series so I'm delighted we're bring the play to Salford's BLACK LION - and in The JOHN COOPER CLARK Studio (Big fan of Johnny). These tales were born in Salford...come and see the re-birth of I'M FRANK MORGAN.

Details in the flyer below (designed by the fantastic DARREN McGINN) you'll be able to book your tickets later this week, stay tuned for further updates...Joe

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THE CELL: Further Development...the writer's perspective

10/11/2012

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First off an apology is due from me to a fellow actor and great award winning writer, Richard Vergette.

Richard wrote the award winning AS WE FORGIVE THEM, a play again set in a cell, but this time a cell on death row in America. I've stated elsewhere that David Slack and Cathy Crabb recommended me for the production, but I wasn't the first to be approached for this role. I had completely overlooked the fact that Richard had been approached first and couldn't play the part due to other commitments. Richard recommended me to Michael then approached me - and I then approached Michael.

I can't fathom for the life of me why I have forgotten this, apart from the fact that it's been a very busy period for me and I'm meeting myself coming back at the moment, head up my ass? Yes, I'd say so - it's Richard I have to thank for the original tip off and I do so here, you're a gem mate and thanks for the big up - first few drinks on me tonight Richard!

It's been great having a short sabbatical away from Tales from Paradise Heights, getting involved in Michael Crowley's excellent, hard hitting and relevant play THE CELL - here are Michael's thoughts on the work we have been doing this week.

'The Cell' development week at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, 8th-12th October

10.10.2012
I have an almost entirely new cast on my hands, which means re rehearsing of course, but it provides more opportunities than anything else. Joe O’Byrne is my new Scully (the play’s protagonist) and has learned his lines very quickly indeed. We are now into finding news aspects to the character and Joe is capturing his troubled nature so well. The key to the story is Scully’s descent, making it credible whilst at the same time still surprising the audience. Whilst he is becoming more vulnerable in this production, the prisoner Kelly is becoming more severe.

I worry a great deal about the message the play is sending out. I work in a prison and I believe in what I and my colleagues are trying, and sometimes succeeding in achieving there. I was there this morning before rehearsals, in a class with half a dozen lads running a poetry workshop: memoir drawn from a road significant, familiar to the young writer. There was the road where a grandmother died, where a father beat his wife and son, where a boy was knocked down, where diazepam was acquired for a fatal overdose, where a home was invaded. David Barlow who plays Kelly in The Cell came to the prison to work with lads and seems to have absorbed something. His Kelly is seasoned; sensibilities buried alive like so many of the lads. Joe O’Byrne and Jonnie Moran have brought extensive experience and any development of this play is collaborative.

Dreamscope Productions filmed one of the 24:7 shows and this film along with the script is already being used in several prisons as a basis for writing and drama exercises to tackle bullying. Changing people is like writing though, it takes many drafts and this morning I was also with a lad who helped me develop the first draft when he was inside, came to see it on release at 24:7, and is now back in. We’re working on a new play.

Tickets for 12 October here:
https://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/145/247-The-Next-Stage-br-The-Cell-by-Michael-Crowley/482

Come and join us Friday night at The Octagon Theatre, Bolton, show starts at 7.30 pm, followed by a Q&A with the audience and Michael and the cast...it would be lovely to see you and I can promise you a play you will never forget.

Joe x

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An Extraordinarily Powerful Play For Our Times...

10/10/2012

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Joe O'Byrne

I really wish I had written this blog post earlier, but I've been feckin' busy...

A couple of weeks ago I was extremely fortunate to be recommended by David Slack, the 24/7 Manchester Theatre Festival giant and the great writer Cathy Crabb to get involved in a play called THE CELL by Michael Crowley. This play was written by Michael with the co-operation of prisoners, and my god, is this one extraordinarily powerful play.

It's more than a play, it's a damning indictment of a prison system where the prisoners run the show, where officers are so disillusioned by this 'system' that they become part of the mechanics that abandons the weak to their fates. Oh I'm sure there will be people out there that will be saying '...all the prisons aren't like that!' But the scary truth is - many are. The death sentence is alive and kicking in many of these institutions. This is not a drama, it's a horror story.

Michael Crowley

The play has one night at The Octagon Theatre, Bolton this Friday 12th October, but this play should really be playing the main stage of every theatre in this country and the prisons minister, probation boards, governors and officers should be made to attend. If this happened I'm really not exaggerating when I say this play and the issues it tackles unflinchingly, would save lives. As a script i think it's an award winner - as a performance? It's devastating.

The Cell

I'm fortunate enough to working with a powerhouse cast of David Barlow, Jonnie Moran and Daniel Hayes, the play's direction is in the hands of the excellent Ron Meadows, with input from Michael. I'm more than proud to be part of this band. As an audience member this play would stay with me for a long time, as a performer it has left a lasting impression on me - we walk past or drive by institutions regularly, I'll never do that again without shuddering internally, knowing what's going on within those walls.

I'm giving this everything I've got (not that I don't normally do that) but this has lit a fire inside. It's on for one night; I implore you to come along, bring people with you, bring reviewers and TELL people about it - this isn't really about getting an audience (although that is undeniably a bonus) this is about more than that. It's about getting the message out there, it's about protecting young offenders and indeed staff within these institutions that are even now, as I write this, lost and in complete despair.

Simply put - it's about saving lives.

You can book your tickets at the link below:
https://www.octagonbolton.co.uk/145/247-The-Next-Stage-br-The-Cell-by-Michael-Crowley/482

Hope you can make it...

Joe x

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Watch THE WATCHER: A Halloween Tale from Paradise Heights...

I'M FRANK MORGAN Roars out of The Black Lion, Salford...

THE CELL: Further Development...the writer's perspective

An Extraordinarily Powerful Play For Our Times...

Joe O'Byrne

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