One Man Show Tackles Football’s Last Taboo

One Man Show Tackles Football’s Last Taboo

Auckland Live, Hartshorn - Hook Productions
& Working Progress Theatre present
AWAY FROM HOME
Written by Rob Ward and Martin Jameson
Directed and designed by Martin Jameson

DIRECT FROM THE UK comes AWAY FROM HOME, an award-winning production that delves into the taboo subject of homosexuality within English football. An edgy, moving, subversive one-man show laced with sharp humour, Away From Home holds its NZ première this 17 - 21 February at the Herald Theatre, as part of Auckland Fringeand Auckland Pride Festival 2015.

“Singularly brave and rather extraordinary” Independent

Kyle is comfortable with his life as a male escort until the day he is hired by a premiership footballer and finds himself falling in love. But can Kyle maintain a relationship with a closeted footballer in a country where not one pro player is out? Can he cope with love when, for him, sex has only ever been a transaction? Can he ever tell his friends - and his family - the truth?

The Civil Partnership Act in the United Kingdom is now ten years old while New Zealand’s own Civil Union is just shy of 15 years since becoming legal. Same-sex marriage has recently passed into law for both countries and it is a criminal offence to stir up hatred against people on grounds of their sexual orientation. After years of struggle, the stigma is finally fading. To be gay is okay, being out isn’t an issue. Yet, homosexuality remains an off-limit subject in English football.

With not one of Britain’s 5,000 professional footballers being openly gay, the national sport is leagues behind - an issue which sits in parallel to New Zealand’s own relationship to sexuality and the game. It was within this climate, and in the wake of the Football World Cup, Hartshorn - Hook Productions and Working Progress Theatre Company have created this visceral new play, tackling the issue of homophobia in the beautiful game.

Premiering at Manchester’s 2014 24:7 Theatre Festival, Away from Home has since gone on to play everywhere from London’s Jermyn Street Theatre to the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, visiting The Lowry, the Brighton Fringe, the York Theatre Royal, Derby Theatreand most recently the largest festival in the world - Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It now makes its way down under for its first international season at Auckland’s Herald Theatre.

Co-written by Rob Ward and Martin Jameson, who between them share decades of experience in theatre, TV and radio (Casualty, Emmerdale, Holby City and numerous radio dramas for BBC Radio 4) it is Ward, founder of the Working Progress Theatre Company that undertakes the role of male-escort Kyle while Jameson is at the helm as director.

Playing to packed houses, garnering rave reviews including five stars from WhatsOnStage.com three times over, and receiving standing ovations, Ward won theAudience Award for Best Actor at 24:7 with the work taking the North West Equity Vicky Allen Memorial Award for Best Production. The show has also been awardedBest Play at 24:7, Best New Play at the Manchester Theatre Awards 2014, and for his performances at Jermyn Street Theatre, Ward has been nominated for a 2015 Off-West End Award for Best Actor.

“A one-man masterpiece” Broadway Baby

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

A panel discussion on ‘Stigma around Homosexuality in Sport’ will be held post-show on Wednesday 18 February, 8pm.

AWAY FROM HOME* plays
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 February 2015
Venue: The Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
Times: Tues & Wed 6.30pm, Thurs – Sat 8pm and Sat 2pm
Tickets: Adult $35, Concession $30, Pride/Fringe Artists $19.00* (Service fees apply. Pride/Fringe Artists price only valid with Fringe ID card and only where door sales are available.)
Booking: www.ticketmaster.co.nz 0800 111 999

*Contains nudity, strong language and adult themes. Recommended for audiences 16yrs and over.

Web: hartshornhook.com Web: aucklandlive.co.nz Twitter: @AwayFromHome14Twitter: @AucklandLive

Auckland Fringe 2015 is an open access arts festival where anything can happen. The 2015 programme will see work happening all over the show, pushing the boundaries of performance Auckland wide from February 11 to March 1. www.aucklandfringe.co.nz

Auckland Pride is New Zealand’s largest festival celebrating the colourful and diverse LGBTIQ community. Auckland Pride Festival 2015 runs from February 7 to March 1. For more information visit aucklandpridefestival.org.nz, facebook.com/AkldPrideFest ortwitter.com/AkldPrideFest

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