Award-winning play Build a Rocket returns to Scarborough before UK tour

Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September 2019

Following an award-winning run at Australia’s Adelaide Fringe Festival this spring, Christopher York’s Build a Rocket returns to the Stephen Joseph Theatre for a limited run next month before embarking on an extensive UK tour.

The show, which premiered at the SJT last summer before going to the Edinburgh Fringe, can be seen at the theatre for just three performances on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September.

Winner of the Holden Street Theatres' Edinburgh Fringe Award 2018, Adelaide Fringe Best Theatre Weekly Award 2019 and named The Sunday Mail’s Best Female Solo Show (Adelaide), Build a Rocket sees critically-acclaimed Serena Manteghi reprise her role as Yasmin.  Hard-hitting yet inspiring, this funny and heart-warming production, written by Scarborough-born Christopher York, challenges our perceptions about young motherhood.

Build a Rocket is directed by Paul Robinson, designed by Helen Coyston, with lighting design by Ben Cowens. The composer and sound designer is Simon Slater.

Yasmin is a bright 16-year-old from Scarborough. Her world is turned upside down when she becomes pregnant. Abandoned by both the father of her child and her alcoholic mother, Yasmin faces one of life's great challenges completely alone – but can the thing which threatens to ruin her life actually be the thing which saves her?

Writer Christopher York says: “Teenage pregnancy is so demonised and we’re quick to blame teenagers. There was a girl I was at school with who had a child at 15. I was astounded at her resilience; she went on to pass her GCSEs, go to college and university, get married and raise a wonderful human being. She is a phenomenal person. We are still conservative about these topics. If we were more open and Scandinavian about how we tackled sex and sexual health, especially with young people, we may not have the statistics we do.”

Director Paul Robinson says: “I’m delighted that Build a Rocket is going on a national tour in co-production with Tara Finney Productions. It’s a key strategic priority for the SJT to be touring bold, resonant and relevant contemporary work as well as to further champion local emerging artist Christopher York on a national platform. The tour will allow us to reach a broader spectrum of audiences geographically as well as engage directly with local schools which is a wonderful prospect.”

Build a Rocket is touring to theatres and arts centres across the UK, including Halifax’s Square Chapel Arts Centre (18 September), Interplay Theatre, Leeds (19 September), Pocklington Arts Centre (26 September), Selby Town Hall (28 September), Theatre Deli, Sheffield (18 and 19 October) and Hunmanby Arts Centre (26 October). For further venues and dates nationwide: www.sjt.uk.com/news/39/build_a_rocket_blasts_off

Thanks to generous support from the Noël Coward Foundation, it will also be performing to students from schools and college in North Yorkshire, including Malton School, Norton College, Lady Lumley’s School, Scarborough Sixth Form College, Scarborough TEC, Graham School and the Scarborough Pupil Referral Unit.

Build a Rocket can be seen in the McCarthy at the SJT at 7.45pm on Friday 13 September, and at 2.45pm and 7.345pm on Saturday 14 September. Tickets are priced from £10, and can be booked at the box office on 01723 370541 or via the website: www.sjt.uk.com