Inspired by the book, Gangs of Manchester by Andrew Davies, Angels with Manky Faces tells the story of the Scuttlers, Britain’s first youth cult. Set in the streets and gin shops of Ancoats in 1894 ~ against a filmic backdrop capturing the bustle of Manchester’s Victorian slums ~ the play is packed with Mancunian humour and swagger.
Jimmy Johnson is the leader of the Bengal Tigers, the most feared of all the scuttling gangs. Leading a life of gratuitous violence and casual sex, Jimmy is a lucky lad. But when a sultry Irish beauty arrives at his favourite brothel, trouble breaks out between the sheets and in the streets.
Angels with Manky Faces isn’t a conventional theatre production, it is multi-media - aimed at a wide audience ~ for people who might like to go to the match; or watch
This production features cameo performances from some of Manchester’s well known exports. Clint Boon ~ from the Inspiral Carpets ~ has re-recorded ‘This Is How It Feels’ with Kathryn Edwards, which features in one of the films. The Smiths drummer, Mike Joyce’s appearance ~ as the speedway operator of a Victorian fair ~ is set to ‘Rusholme Ruffians’. Actor, Graeme Hawley (Coronation Street’s John Snape) plays an escaped convict being chased through the slums by broadcaster/ DJ, Phil Beckett. Musician/producer Martin Coogan has recorded a version of ‘Dirty Old Town’, which is used as a film sequence. This film also includes some of Manchester’s latest talent including Bye Bye Johnny and The Naughtys. There is also a notable cameo appearance from Terry Christian (as an unlikely priest) and even the manager ~ and some of FC United’s players ~ feature as their predecessors from Newton Heath FC. Finally, actor John Henshaw (Looking for Eric, Early Doors, Cops…) provides an unmistakable voice over at the start of the production, and later performs a brilliant version of Twisted Wheel’s, ‘You Stole the Sun’ along with the band themselves.
Angels with Manky Faces celebrates the rich history of Manchester and has already proved itself to be a piece of groundbreaking theatre for the masses!
"(Angels with Manky Faces)…was one of the most exciting pieces of theatre I’ve seen in ages". Tincan.tv
"astonishing theatrical extravaganza" UK Theatre Network
Watch The Angels With Manky Faces video on YouTube here.
Watch Artistic Director Rob Lees talking about the production on YouTube.
Websites:
http://www.madtheatrecompany.co.uk
http://gangsofmanchester.com/
Jayne Robinson’s review of the recent Library Theatre run:
Now that’s what live theatre’s all about. That bit there, when every face in the crowded theatre beamed, and every hand clapped along to a Mancunian rendition of The Pogues’ ‘Dirty Old Town’. Or the bit when lines were slightly fluffed, but everyone was too swept along in the spirit of the scene to give a crap (and what the hell does an over-polished performance count for anyway when a production has the power to raise this much life in its audience?). Or maybe it’s that bit at the end, when the divide between stage and stall may as well not even be there – because the performers stood on it are just as overjoyed and every bit as human as the faces sat in front of them.
I’m gushing. And rightly so, because tonight’s performance of Angels with Manky Faces at Manchester’s Library Theatre was one of the most exciting pieces of theatre I’ve seen in ages. The latest offering by down-to-earth Manchester based theatre company MaD takes Andrew Davies’ bestselling book ‘Gangs of Manchester’ as its inspiration, dragging historical fact through a wonderland of dramatic license and creating a hilarious (honestly), touching and relevant story that mixes original photography and video by Paul Cliff with live action, to create a Victorian ‘Madchester’ – with a modern-era soundtrack and a cast of famous faces gathered from every corner of the region’s pop-culture and wrapped up in sepia.
It’s 1894. The Bengal Tigers are a Burberry-clad Scuttling gang from Ancoats, Manchester. Past times include drinking, hanging out with their prostitute-sweethearts, violent fighting with neighbouring gangs and general ASBO-worthy behaviour that make Fagin’s gang of pick-pocketing ne’er do wells look like a bunch of Southern fairies. And so things continue until an Irish beauty arrives on the scene and sparks the attention of the gang’s leader, Jimmy Johnson – who chooses to put his scuttlin’ life behind him in favour of domestic bliss with the Misssus.
Live action is set against a filmic backdrop, and interspersed with full filmed scenes by Manchester filmmaker Paul Cliff that include cameos by the likes of Clint Boon, Mike Joyce, Twisted Wheel, FC United, Terry Christian and Jon Hensaw to name but a few.
The large cast – a troupe of 6 adults and 15 youths of mixed ages – is well handled by director Rob Lees and smoothly glued together with energy and sass. The mainly teenage cast are, on the whole, exceptional – with stand out performances from Jack Williamson as Jimmy, and Abi Gunning and Rosie Philips as his two love interests, Fanny Flanagan and Ann-Marie O’Donnell.
But it’s the littlest cast members who inevitably steal the stage. Yes, they have cuteness on their side and with that in mind would be hard-pressed to cock anything up really, but Alana Thornton and Lauren Lennon are pretty astounding in their sizeable comedic roles as gobby-little-shites Mary-Ellen and Mary-Ann.
One of the aims of MaD theatre company is to attract new audiences to theatre. Mission accomplished guys. Angels with Manky Faces sold-out quickly, with extra nights being put on to cope with demand. I also heard a rumour after the show that the production may reappear at a different Manchester venue in the near future… my advice would be to snap up a ticket straight away if this happens.
Production photos:
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