A theatre show documenting one man’s experiences and life in Preston is coming to The Continental.
AdvertisementThe Preston Bill was created, written and performed by Lancashire based artist Andy Smith and has been developed with the help of local people in the city. His journey covers a look through history and politics as well as an insight into his personal experiences across his 80 years.
Beginning in 1935, the show encounters the ups and downs of different socio-political climates during the life of character, Bill, from the fall of the Berlin Wall, to America’s first black president.
Andy has worked on several solo projects before, but also collaborated with Karl James and Tim Crouch on productions including An Oak Tree, which recently celebrated its ten year anniversary at National Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe.
Andy said, “The Preston Bill is contemporary theatre, but in many senses is very traditional. It contains ideas of epic narratives, of telling a story, of political themes. The piece is a solo, but as with all my work, it makes some requests of the spectator to engage imaginatively with what the story offers. I think and hope that in some way it might be seen as a collaboration with its audience, which is what I think all theatre should be.”
New Theatre in Your Neighbourhood uses location and local places and The Preston Bill uses this as well as a culmination of research surrounding Preston to develop its story.
Before hitting The Continental, The Preston Bill will also be making an appearance on Saturday’s Lancashire Encounter line-up.
The Preston Bill comes to The Continental on October 14, 15, 21 and 22. Shows start at 8pm and for more information on ticketing, visit their website here.