UK News: Doorman/Bouncer at the Liverpool Everyman

crewes gale productions present

Doorman/Bouncer

a double bill by Geoff Thompson

director& designer Michael Vale

lighting  Tim Skelly

composer  Phelan Kane and Steve Hopwood

film director  Michael Baig Clifford

cast  Craig Conway (Doorman)/ Ray Winstone (Bouncer)

This April, the first play and first short film by award-winning playwright Geoff Thompson are performed at Liverpool Playhouse as a powerful and hard-hitting double-bill on the darkly seductive trade of the bouncer.

Doorman, a one-man play starring Craig Conway and Bouncer, a short film starring Ray Winstone, present a unique perspective on the world of the nightclub doorman and explore the innermost fears and nightmares of the hardest men in the clubs.

Doorman, directed by Michael Vale, tells the story of Tony and his life on the door. It shows his regret at the cycle of violence that has cost him his family and may ultimately cost him his sanity. Brutally honest, it strips away the 'image' and exposes the battles and fears of the notoriously violent world inhabited by the men on the door.

Bouncer, written in 2002, was Thompson's first short film, and received awards at the TCM, Edinburgh Festival and the RTS in 2002. It was also nominated for a BAFTA for best short film in 2004. Bouncer charts the events of the night when a bouncer's worst nightmare comes true and a punter's search for revenge spirals out of control.

Geoff Thompson survived a decade of bouncing for some of the toughest clubs in the UK. Out of his experiences come two gritty, authentic and often darkly funny pieces. After turning his back on door-security ten years ago he has written and published 25 non-fiction books and won an international reputation as a teacher of self-defence. His first book, Watch My Back, was published in 1992 and appeared on the Sunday Times Best Sellers List. Doorman was Thompson's first stage play and led to The Royal Court Theatre inviting him into their prestigious writers group.

Craig Conway is currently performing in East at the Leicester Haymarket. His previous theatre credits include Homage to Catalonia (West Yorkshire Playhouse), 1984 and Animal Farm (Northern Stage Company), Peer Gynt and Romeo and Juliet (National Theatre). His film credits include the Mike Leigh film Vera Drake.

Ray Winstone's many film credits include the 2005 animated film The Magic Roundabout, King Arthur (which also starred Clive Owen and Keira Knightley), Cold Mountain directed by Anthony Minghella, and Nil By Mouth for which he was nominated for a BAFTA as Best Actor. His television work includes the ITV two-part drama Henry VIII, Tough Love and She's Gone (ITV, 2004).

The play and short film both contain strong language and scenes of violence.

Doorman/Bouncer opens at Liverpool Everyman before touring to Warwick Arts, The Leicester Phoenix and The Lowry.