The Bunker’s Summer 2018 season celebrates exciting work from both emerging and established companies. A highlight of this season is Breaking Out – a new initiative introduced by Artistic Director Joshua McTaggart – which champions the most ambitious and innovative theatre companies who are embarking on their theatrical journey.
The season opens with On The Buttons’ Don’t Panic! It’s Challenge Anneka. Inspired by real life stories, this rollercoaster one-woman show presents a frank, funny and open exploration of a topic that too often remains taboo: the challenge of overcoming anxiety.
Following Don’t Panic! is the much-anticipated Breaking Out. Chosen from over 45 entries, the selected shows are: Poke in the Eye’s Libby’s Eyes – an experimental production about a young woman navigating a world she can’t see; Sleepless’ Nine Foot Nine – a fully accessible show that explores a world in which every self-identifying woman suddenly grows to nine foot nine inches; This Noise’s No One is Coming to Save You which uses the nineties classic children’s movie Matilda as a lens into a tragic event of a young woman; Paper Creatures explore the life of a young man who is sectioned in Section 2; Second Circle Theatre will create an interactive date night with a difference in their production Kiss Chase, and leoe&hyde bring an electronic musical exploring the intricacies of Grindr and gay dating in Manchester.
Following Breaking Out, The Bunker plays host to both the National Youth Theatre’s Playing Up project and Drama Studio London’s end of year showcase. The season concludes with Athenaeum Productions’ Breathe – the latest play by George Jaques. Directed by Hannah Hauer-King (from The Bunker’s resident company Damsel Productions), Breathe is a bold production exploring six young people impacted by teenage suicide. It is presented in partnership with ChildLine.
Director Joshua McTaggart comments, I am thrilled that The Bunker’s Summer Season champions and celebrates ‘The Company’. From established ensembles to emerging artists, summer at The Bunker will see an incredible range of performances, styles, and ideas all presented by groups who collaborate and create their work together. At the centre of this programming are the six winners of our Breaking Out project, chosen from an incredible application pool of 45 companies. These six companies are just at the beginning of their journeys, but the work they are planning to create is sharp, contemporary, and ambitious, and I know our audiences are going to be fascinated by the stories these young artists have to tell.
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