MOLLY WOBBLY'S TIT FACTORY Team Comments on Last-Minute Show Cancellation in London

Following yesterday's news that the highly anticipated run of MOLLY WOBBLY'S TIT FACTORY at London's Hackney Empire had been cancelled at the last minute, the production released the following statement:

"The show was an independent production, privately financed, dependent upon continuing fiscal support in a hotly-contested and saturated market place. During technical rehearsals this week one of the production's financial backers very suddenly pulled a considerable amount of funding, and so the producers decided that the only fair, just, and transparent course of action was to inform the entire company and, collectively and collaboratively, the decision was reached to not proceed further at this time."

The MOLLY WOBBLY team went on to site a statement posted on the Facebook page of one of the show's stars, Sophie-Louise Dann.

She wrote: "As you know I am a great advocate of new work. Here was a fresh, zany original piece by the wonderful Paul Boyd which, admirably, was being presented as a full scale production privately funded. Not a revivel in a studio space where the company were unpaid. At the eleventh hour a major backer pulled their funding. That's it, that's all. No ructions, no rifts, no mystery...May I say that I have experienced some of the most wonderful times with this incredible bunch of people - creative, technical and artistic teams all. If you have any comment please let it be of support to all involved."

Writer and director Paul Boyd also released a statement:

"The difficult decision to cancel the current run of 'Molly Wobbly's Tit Factory' was made to secure the future of the show and to preserve the wonderful, creative, and nurturing relationship between the show's producers, creative team, and our immensely talented and supportive cast and crew. We are grateful for everyone's messages of support and for the unwavering dedication of our friends at Hackney Empire. Our thoughts are with everyone who bought tickets at the Tit Factory in anticipation of an exciting and innovative musical night out at the theatre. Our focus is now fixed firmly on the future."

MOLLY WOBBLY'S TIT FACTORY was originally scheduled to run last night, September 20, through October 5, 2013 at Hackney Empire. Late on Thursday night the cast and crew were informed that the financial backer had withdrawn but proceeded with their planned press call yesterday morning, September 20. They were told after the event that the evening's performance had been cancelled, as well as the rest of the run.

A musical comedy by Paul Boyd, MOLLY WOBBLY'S TIT FACTORY is directed by Paul Boyd, with design by Diego Pitarch, choreography by Sarah Johnston, and lighting by John Riddell. The Musical Director is Matthew Reeve. The production was originally at the Lyric Theatre Belfast and subsequently at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year.

In the cast are Gary Wilmot (Malcolm), Sophie-Louise Dann (Margaret), David Hunter (Kitten), Shona White (Jemma), Conleth Kane (Jake), Stephanie Fearon (Ruth), Christopher Finn (Robbie), and Russell Morton (Ithanku).

Synopsis: The town of Little Happening gets an unexpected make-over when a devious and creepy stranger arrives on MamMary Lane promising personal improvement to three unhappy women.

There are 22 musical numbers in the show. Numbers include 'Presbyterian Minister's Wife', MamMary Lane, 'Off My Chest', 'Molly Wobbly' and the outrageous 'One Night Stand'. The original cast recording was released by SimG Records last autumn with all proceeds going to the Terence Higgins Trust.

Paul Boyd has written 20 musicals and is also the composer and co-creator of 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Sinbad' two water spectaculars which have been seen worldwide. He created the role of The Writer in Spike Milligan's stage comedy 'Puckoon' for which he wrote the score and co wrote the book. This has toured Ireland and was at the Leicester Square Theatre in 2009. Diego Pitarch has designed many productions with Craig Revel Horwood including 'Sunset Boulevard' at the Comedy Theatre.

For more information, visit www.hackneyempire.co.uk, or www.mollywobblystitfactory.com.

Photo Credit: Darren Bell

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