The Stephen Joseph Theatre’s Build a Rocket heads down under
A one-woman show about a young mum from Scarborough, produced last year by the Stephen Joseph Theatre, heads to Australia later this month in a co-production with Tara Finney Productions, after winning a prestigious award at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe.
Build a Rocket won the Holden Street Theatres’ Edinburgh Fringe Award 2018, which invites winning shows to headline their season at the Adelaide Fringe festival, the world’s largest fringe festival outside Edinburgh.
The show, set in Scarborough, will be performed at The Studio at Holden Street Theatres in Hindmarsh, Adelaide, from 12 February to 17 March.
Hard-hitting yet uplifting, Build a Rocket, written by Scarborough-born Christopher York, was first seen in July last year, first at the Latitude Festival and then in two ‘pay what you decide’ performances at the SJT.
It then took up residence at the Pleasance Courtyard in Edinburgh throughout the Fringe in August, where it gained eight four-star reviews. It returned to the SJT for a week in early September.
It is directed by the SJT’s Artistic Director Paul Robinson, who says: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Build a Rocket has been recognised by this international award and has the opportunity to headline at the Holden Street Theatres during the brilliant Adelaide Fringe.”
The play tells the story of teenage single mum Yasmin, played by Serena Manteghi.
Writer Christopher York was born and brought up in Scarborough. His short plays Jimbob, Seven People, A Million Little Hands and Jesus is a Rochdale Girl have been performed at venues such as The Arcola, Southwark Playhouse and The Arts Theatre. Build a Rocket is his first full-length play.
He is a recipient of the High Tide First Commissions Award as well as being shortlisted for the Old Vic 12.
Actor Serena Manteghi played Rosie in My Mother Said I Never Should at St James Theatre, and was Bobbie in the Olivier-Award-winning York Theatre Royal production of The Railway Children at King’s Cross Theatre. Last year she was LV in the SJT’s production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.
