Cuckoo a play by Chris Pearson

Artwork by Christos Alamaniotis

Cuckoo

Written by Chris Pearson

Amidst arguing, singing and the daily grind of life in 1982, Tessa and Benno have an unexpected visitor, but why is he there?

This “scratch” performance will be performed script-in-hand, by professional actors with no set, props or costume.

Join us in the Middle Child rehearsal space for an intimate night out to see a new work-in-progress play, featuring a Q&A with the writer and director after the performance, in which you can share your own thoughts on the script.

About Out Loud

Out Loud is a Middle Child and Silent Uproar collaboration, presenting a showcase for new writers to see early drafts of their plays performed for the first time, in front of a small and friendly audience.

Previous editions include Casino by Larner Wallace-Taylor (Humber Street Gallery, 2022) and 1988 by Hannah Scorer and Shit Life Crisis by Olivia Hannah (Middle Child at Bond 31, 2023).

About the writer

Chris Pearson is a writer who has also done voiceover work for radio and occasionally been known to act, including in Middle Child’s panto.

Chris took part in the 2018 Middle Child Writers’ Group and his previous written work includes SPIN (Hull Truck Theatre’s Play/Pie/Pint); Have You Seen the Gazette? (Middle Child Writers’ Group); Sausages (Kardomah 94) and Sanctuary (Co-Writer for Humber Film).

His writing is guaranteed to be car chase and explosion-free and tends to focus on what some might call the ordinary: mostly working class people having a go, doing their best (and sometimes their worst), but just trying to get through it. He passionately believes there’s a place in theatre for these stories.

Guidance

Running time: Approx. 90 minutes, no interval, followed by a break and then a short Q&A with the writer.

Age guidance: 18+

Content notes: includes classism, violence and misogyny, with themes of mental ill health, child abuse and sexual assault.

Dates

Middle Child at Bond 31, Hull
Fri 20 – Sat 21 Oct

Cast

Ticket Details

For help booking tickets, please contact audience development manager, Jamie Potter, by email or phone on 01482 221857 (Tue-Fri, 9am-5pm).

Pay What You Decide

Tickets for this performance are available on a Pay What You Decide basis, which means you don’t have to pay until after you have seen the show.

We offer tickets like this so you not only pay what you can afford, but also base it on how much you enjoyed the evening and wish to support our work.

Book your seat in advance, then decide what to pay after the show. We can accept either cash or card.

Everybody involved in the production of the event has been paid, so any money collected will go towards funding future productions, workshops and events.

Unreserved Seating

Your ticket does not reserve a specific seat, however spaces will be reserved for wheelchair users – below. We please ask that our audience fill seats from the front upon arrival.

Wheelchair Users

A limited number of wheelchair spaces are available. To reserve a wheelchair space, please book a ‘Pay What You Decide – Wheelchair’ ticket.

Venue Details

The performance will take place in the Middle Child rehearsal space, in Hull’s Old Town.

Address

Bond 31 Warehouse, 42-43 High St, Hull, HU1 1PS

Car Parking

Available in the gravel High Street Pay & Display Car Park, a two-minute walk away, or the Fruit Market multi-storey car park, a three-minute walk away, on Blackfriargate.

Bus

The nearest bus stop is outside St Mary’s Church on Lowgate, a three-minute walk away. This stop is served by the number 16 bus.

Facilities 

Our rehearsal space includes a bottle bar, lift, accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities.