IF YOU like theatre with a real buzz about it then Mikron is the company for you – and never more than this year.
The Marsden-based company is gearing up for its 42nd year of touring nationally, mostly by the country’s inland waterways.
Back are the four actor/musicians who created such a feel-good factor on last year’s national and Pennine tours. And they couldn’t be more delighted that they have two new shows to take off around the country.
Marianne McNamara, Mikron’s artistic director, said: “I am over the moon about the fact that all four actors who worked with us last year are coming back for 2013.
“They did a fantastic job, really worked well together as a team, and delighted our audiences all year long.”
Being a part of Mikron isn’t just about the performing as Nicolas Coutu-Langmead, who is making his return appearance this year is well aware.
On the big waterways tour, the actors on Tyseley, the company’s historic narrowboat.
“Four of us live on the narrowboat,” said Nicolas.
“It’s a little bit cramped and we all eat and sleep on the boat, but I loved it and I love the sense of family, that applies to the many followers of Mikron as well.
“I’m really looking forward to being able to catch up with all the new friends I met last year on our travels”.
There’s plenty for Nicolas and the three other returning actors to get their teeth into this year.
They will be touring two brand new plays, one about beekeeping and the other about the Postal Service. Both feature specially written live music and songs and the cast will play multiple roles.
The first show to open is, Don’t Shoot the Messenger! and is described as adventures in the post.
It’s a whistle stop tour of the story of the postal service and its uncertain future in this age of email and text messaging.
The play has been written by Maeve Larkin and romps through the history of communication at a night-mail pace.
Maeve wrote Can you Keep a Secret? for Mikron last year and has also worked with North West Playwrights, West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.
Mikron’s second new play is Beyond the Veil, a crime thriller with a sting in the tail.
Written by Deborah McAndrew, it introduces Detective Starkey, a small Northern town’s answer to Philip Marlowe.
He is called out to investigate a murder on Thistledale Allotments, and in the process of uncovering the crime finds he’s learning a whole lot about bees, beekeeping and all things apicultural.
Deborah has written extensively for the stage. Her recent work includes A Government Inspector, Accidental Death of an Anarchist for Northern Broadsides (which played at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield), Oliver Twist for Bolton Octagon Theatre and Losing the Plot for Mikron.
She’s also a beekeeper herself and this show about hives, honey and homicide will be performed on a number of allotment sites and beside apiaries during the tour.
Performing at unusual venues is another of Mikron’s unique qualities.
Marianne said: “We take theatre into the heart of communities and will perform wherever we have people wanting to see us.
“You’ll find us in pubs, community halls, fields, boatyards, cafes, village greens, beer gardens, inside tunnels and last year for the first time, on allotments. You name it, we have played, or will, play there!”
More details on the shows and venues on Mikron’s website www.mikron.org.uk
