Tyrone Huggins' THE HONEY MAN to Play The REP

Tyrone Huggins' compelling play, The Honey Man, opens at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 16 to 21 February before a UK tour.

The Honey Man is a funny, moving and compelling story of growing up and growing old. It tells of individual responsibility and shared history, of dying bees, healing herbs and friendship that crossed the boundaries of age and culture.

In a derelict cottage on the grounds of an English country manor house, ageing Caribbean recluse, Honey Man, tries in vain to save his colony of bees. His life is set to change when fiery teenage heiress Misty charges into his world and challenges all he knows.

Initially, the two clash in a funny and painful war of words. But an unlikely friendship develops before events take a dramatic turn when an antique painting reveals a secret that connects their lives in ways they never imagined.

Featuring powerful performances of raw energy, sparkling dialogue and an atmospheric textured soundscape, The Honey Man is a brilliant portrayal of two people clinging on to the edge of an increasingly disorderd world. The play also draws attention to the histories hidden in art and the connections between English heritage and the history of slavery.

Acclaimed Birmingham writer and actor Tyrone Huggins plays the title role. Tyrone says of the play:

"Over the last few years I've become aware that a generation of 'digital natives' has grown up surrounded by digital technology as a fact of life. I began imagining how it would be for a youngster from that generation to encounter someone who was almost locked in another time and way of life.

"I was also interested by how the moment by moment connectedness of the digital world was squeezing out time to reflect and bringing its own form of loneliness. The Honey Man allowed me to bring two characters together who appear to have nothing in common. And because neither has anyone else, they have to search for what they can share; survival of the bees and their British colonial history."

Tyrone Huggins co-founded the experimental / visual theatre company Impact Theatre Co-operative. He has performed in over 70 theatre productions across the UK including most recently, Electra with Kristin Scott Thomas at the Old Vic, Noughts & Crosses and YPS Lear for the RSC and the UK tours of Of Mice And Men with Matthew Kelly and Birmingham Repertory Theatre's Centenary celebration production I Was A Rat! Tyrone has made many appearances on radio, TV and film including The Last Client, On Road and feature Run Fat Boy Run. He has written 12 plays including Emigrating Home for The Bush and Choo Choo Ch'Boogie for Bolton Octagon and is currently under commission for Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Playing Misty is Beatrice Allen from Walsall, who went to school in Birmingham and graduated last year with a Masters from Birmingham School of Acting. The Honey Man will be her professional debut.

The Honey Man is directed by Emma Bernard who frequently directs for Streetwise Opera and last visited The REP to direct Cake by Sarah Woods. Set and video design is by Timothy Bird, who won an Olivier Award for his video design for Sunday in the Park with George (Chocolate Menier Factory). An evocative textured soundscape is by Joseph Roberts, recently at The REP and Hackney Empire as Musical Director for Rudy's Rare Records. Joseph is also an experienced musician who has played with artists including Elton John, Sting, Lily Allen and Luciano Pavarotti, as well as working with community choirs. Lighting design is by Simon Bond who lit The REP's recent productions of Of Mice And Men directed by Roxana Silbert, Rachel De-Lahay's Circles and Kate Tempest's Hopelessly Devoted.

This production of The Honey Man will also offer professional development opportunities to three black, Asian and multi ethnic people from the West Midlands who are either in their early careers or making a career change. Each will receive bursaries and be able to work alongside experienced and exciting artists, producing and production staff which will enhance their chances of employment and career development.

The production and tour has been made possible thanks to a Grants for the Arts award from Arts Council England.

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