Cast

Synopsis

As the second best hangman in the country, Harry Wade is considered by many to be a local celebrity in his small pub in Oldham. But what’s the second-best hangman in England to do on the day they’ve abolished hanging? Amongst the cub reporters and sycophantic pub regulars, dying to hear Harry’s reaction to the news, a peculiar stranger lurks, with a very different motive for his visit. Things turn nastier but funnier!

‘Hangmen’ premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in September 2015, winning ‘Best New Play’ at the 2016 Olivier Awards.

Directors Notes

This Olivier award-winning, dark comedy by Martin McDonagh has laugh-out-loud moments mixed with dark-edged horror and a reality that plumbs the depth of human nature displayed in this riveting play.Set in1965 in his small pub in a northern town, Harry is something of a local celebrity. But what’s the second-best hangman in England to do on the day they’ve abolished hanging? Amongst the reporters and pub cronies dying to hear Harry’s reaction to the news, his old assistant Syd and the sinister Mooney lurk with very different motives. When Harry’s daughter goes missing, he begins to suspect Mooney, the brash, enigmatic young visitor from London. A visit from the revered Albert Pierrepoint the retired former number one hangman (his pub is aptly named “Help the Poor Struggler”) brings an outcome no one expected. Or did they? It is a great privilege to be able to work with a talented group of actors and a dedicated backstage team and my rock, Assistant Director, Julie, to be able to bring this thought-provoking play to the BLT stage. With its dark themes, shocking attitudes and realistic language of 1965, a contemporary audience may find it uncomfortable at times, and, paradoxically, wickedly funny. The play is simply a masterpiece and the cast and crew have been on a creative journey working closely with the text to bring Martin McDonagh’s play to the stage. Julie and I are extremely grateful for the support of the entire BLT theatrical machine and applaud their bravery in bringing this challenging play to the BLT Stage.Footnote;The 1965 Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act was a trial measure, with abolition finalised in 1969. But parliamentary votes on reintroduction continued into the 1990s, and it was only relatively recently that the last remnants of the death penalty were definitively removed from UK law. Only in 1998 did treason and piracy cease to be capital offencesWith a strong back-stage team, led by Rosemary Grainger as Stage Manager, I know that when I finally relinquish the reins of this production, it will be in safe hands.Although this is not a comedy, it is a play with a lot of humour in it. Please, sit back and enjoy your evening