Cardboard Citizens' Cathy Tour

Hayley Wareham, Amy Loughton and Cathy Owen in Cathy. Photo: Pamela Raith.

The phenomenal success of its 2016 tour, Cardboard Citizens has announced extra dates for its critically acclaimed play Cathy. The play will play in traditional venues but also in hostels, prisons and a library. It will also be streamed from Cast in Doncaster.

First broadcast in 1966 on the BBC, Cathy Come Home depicts a young family’s slide into homelessness. The first screening of the film led to public outrage at the state of housing in Britain and became a defining cultural landmark, demonstrating the power of art to effect social and political change.

Cathy features Alex Jones, Amy Loughton, Cathy Owen and Hayley Wareham.

Since the tour began in October this year, Cathy has been seen by more than 2,200 people, 170 of whom saw it in a hostel. In theatres, the hugely successful £1 ticket initiative has offered vulnerable and homeless people an accessible way to experience this powerful and emotive Forum Theatre piece; almost 20% of tickets have been sold at this price. Written by award-winning playwright Ali Taylor, Cathy is directed by Cardboard Citizens’ Artistic Director, Adrian Jackson.

As well as an additional performance during the sold out run at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, the production will now visit White Rock Theatre, Hastings for a pay what you like performance, with all donations for Cardboard Citizens; Lady Chapel at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, to raise funds for Liverpool’s biggest food bank and Shelter and St. Helen’s Library, Merseyside.

Cathy will be live streamed on 18 January from Cast, Doncaster at 7.45pm by Pilot Theatre. Audiences will be able to watch at https://www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk/CathyLive. During the Forum section of the production, virtual audiences will be encouraged to join in a live debate on a dedicated comments board and by using #CathyLive.

Adrian Jackson said, “The reaction to Cathy has been overwhelming, with audiences strongly moved, angry and compassionate in equal measure. Ali Taylor’s timely and powerful play – tapping into the same zeitgeist as I, Daniel Blake and Love at the National Theatre – has now been performed to packed houses in 15 theatres and hostels across the country from Exeter to Cumbria, and afterwards each audience has offered ideas and strategies in dynamic Forum Theatre sessions. “We are excited to be able to offer more people the chance to experience Cathy with the announcement of these new dates, offering further opportunities to empower audiences to rehearse changes they would like to see in the world we live in. We are particularly pleased to be supporting Liverpool’s biggest food bank with a fundraising performance on 11 January.”

Cathy is directed by Adrian Jackson, designed by Lucy Sierra, with lighting design by Mark Dymock and sound by Matt Lewis.

CATHY 2017 TOUR DATES

Crucible Studio, Sheffield

10-11 January

SOLD OUT

Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

12-14 January

SOLD OUT

Northern Stage, Newcastle

16-17 January

BOOK TICKETS Cast, Doncaster

18 January

BOOK TICKETS mac Birmingham, Birmingham

19-20 January

BOOK TICKETS Bridport Arts Centre

3 February

BOOK TICKETS HMP Pentonville, London

23-24 January

Tickets will not be on sale

White Rock Theatre, Hastings

25-26 January

Book now (Pay what you like performance) HMP Thameside, London

31 January

Tickets will not be on sale

Warwick Arts Centre

6-7 February

BOOK TICKETS Theatre Royal Wakefield

8 February

BOOK TICKETS The Civic, Barnsley

9 February

BOOK TICKETS St Helen’s Library, Merseyside

10 February

BOOK TICKETS Lady Chapel, Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

11 February

This is a free event. There is a suggested donation to the local food bank, Hope+.

Reserve a ticket now