Photo Flash: Stephen Joseph Theatre Presents BROKEN BISCUITS

The world premiere of a brand new coming-of-age comedy from East Yorkshire writer Tom Wells comes to Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre next month.

Broken Biscuits, a co-production from Paines Plough and Newcastle's Live Theatre, is directed by Paines Plough's Co-Artistic Director James Grieve, and can be seen in the SJT's McCarthy theatre from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 November as part of a national tour.

"The point is: we're losers. Nobodies. Carry on like this, we're losers forever. And we don't have to be. Fresh start, two months to completely one hundred per cent reinvent ourselves. And I know exactly how we can do that."

Megan, Holly and Ben are definitely not the cool kids. But Megan has a plan. One long summer holiday to change their lives. One sure path to coolness. One amazing transformation, through the power of song.

Holed up in Megan's garden shed, three friends try to change their fortunes in a beautiful, heart-warming, laugh-out-loud, coming-of-age story for our times. Rock on.

Playwright Tom Wells says: "Broken Biscuits is a play about three teenagers starting a band - I wanted to write about the summer you finish your GCSEs, being 16, full of big hopes and big worries, figuring things out a bit and trying new stuff. And I wanted to have a go at writing some lyrics, in the DIY spirit of a teenage band, fill the play with music and see what happened. I'm thrilled that Broken Biscuits is being brought to the stage by Live Theatre and Paines Plough and we've been really lucky to cast three soulful young actors with funny bones as Megan, Holly and Ben."

James Grieve says: "Tom first joined Paines Plough as part of our Future Perfect group for emerging playwrights in 2009. We have always adored his writing and following the huge success of Jumpers for Goalposts we are honoured to be co-producing Broken Biscuits with Live Theatre Newcastle. It's a gorgeous, hilarious, heart-squeezing play that shows why Tom is one of our best-loved modern writers. Featuring original songs from Matthew Robins and a supremely talented cast of future stars, we can't wait to share it with audiences on tour across the UK."

Paines Plough held nationwide open auditions and cast Faye Christall (Megan) and Andrew Reed (Ben) from their search. The cast is completed by Grace Hogg-Robinson, making her stage debut as Holly.

Tom Wells is a writer from Kilnsea in Holderness. His plays include Folk, Cinderella, Symphony, Jumpers for Goalposts, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cosmic, Jonsey, The Kitchen Sink (winner of the Most Promising Playwright - Critics Circle, 2011, and the 2012 George Devine Award), Fossils, Spacewang, Me, As A Penguin, Yeti, About A Goth and Notes For First Time Astronauts. Ben & Lump, which Tom wrote as part of the Coming Up season was broadcast on Channel 4 in the spring of 2012. In 2009 Tom was a member of Paines Plough/Channel 4's Future Perfect scheme and in 2012 he was Associate Playwright at Hull Truck. Tom is currently under commission to The Drum Plymouth, Northern Broadsides, The Royal Court and the National Theatre. He is developing a new idea for Leftbank Pictures.

Broken Biscuits can be seen at the SJT on Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9 and Friday 11 November at 7.45pm; Thursday 10 November at 1.45pm and 7.15pm; and Saturday 12 November at 2.45pm and 7.45pm.

Tickets costs from £10 to £21, and under-26s can claim a £5 ticket. To book, please call the box office on 01723 370541 or visit the website: www.sjt.uk.com

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