Joe Orton’s Loot at York Theatre Royal

York Settlement Community Players are back at York Theatre Royal this month with Joe Orton’s masterfully scandalous Loot. A free-wheeling and ferocious dark farce about life’s ultimate taboo…death, this production will shock, amuse and entertain audiences in Orton’s signature style.

Following the fortunes of two thieves, Hal and Dennis, Joe Orton wrote the play in 1965 to be deliberately controversial and thought-provoking. Tackling some very dark themes including how society views death, the YSCP production is set in 1966, when the play was first performed.

Director Katie Leckey said “We made the choice to set the production in the time it was produced so that audiences can see what has changed about ideas of ‘Britishness’, religion and institutional tyranny since then (if anything) and what still shocks and outrages us today. We can’t wait to bring this show to York Theatre Royal’s Studio later this month. ”

Focusing on the flamboyant characters and how they navigate the ridiculous farce they find themselves in, the show features rolling eyeballs, flying false teeth and a live actor playing a dead body. Loot is truly a hoot!

The show has an amateur cast of 13 actors, with the two thieves played by Jack Mackay (Hal) and Miles John (Dennis). The cast also includes Paul French as Mr Mcleavy, Caroline Greenwood as Mrs Mcleavy, Stuart Green as Truscott, Emily Hansen as Meadows and Emily Carhart as Fay. Helen Clarke, Xandra Loan, James Wood, Chris Meadley, Victoria Delaney and Serefina Coupe will also star.

Tickets are on sale now via yorktheatreroyal.co.uk and at Box Office (01904 623568.)