Scrappers world premiere at the Playhouse Studio

This autumn the Everyman and Playhouse continues its commitment to nurturing new talent by presenting another debut play in the Playhouse Studio.  Scrappers, described as a funny and tender comedy, tells the story of a small group of scrap merchants. Written by Daniel Matthew and directed by Matthew Xia, the cast features David Judge, John McGrellis, Ged McKenna and Molly Taylor and will be staged in the intimate ‘upstairs’ space from October 24 to November 16.  Way out west, on the edge of England, the sun is setting on the last scrapyard in town. It’s Friday night and time for a pint for Ken and his loyal apprentices Morse ("Fleetwood’s answer to Jack Kerouac, if anyone’s asking”) and Ryan, who just wants a smile from the girl at the bus stop. But a storm is brewing, and the thunder of bulldozers grows closer, and then, Carlsberg in one hand, Jimmy Choos in the other, Jodie turns up. Set in Fleetwood, Scrappers, the debut play by Daniel Matthew, is an affectionate story of diamonds in the rough, where a little bit of magic sparkles under the rusting tangle of modern life. JMU graduate Daniel developed the play while on the Young Everyman Playhouse Writers Programme and it was first performed for the public in a rehearsed reading at last year’s Everyword Festival. It is directed by Everyman and Playhouse director in residence Matthew Xia (Wild Child, Royal Court; Mad Blud and The Blacks, Theatre Royal Stratford East) who is with the Playhouse as part of the Regional Theatre Young Directors' Scheme. In September Matthew will direct Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Banzi Is Dead at the Young Vic through the Genesis Future Directors Award. He has also DJed for Radio 1 and the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics. Scrappers is designed by Mari Lotherington, the winner of the Everyman and Playhouse Design Prize, awarded annually to a LIPA graduate. The prize has been created to give talent trained in Liverpool the opportunity to design an Everyman and Playhouse production each year. Mari has also designed When the Rain Stops Falling (Unity Theatre) and is assistant designer for Peer Gynt at Norwegian Opera, Oslo later this year. Ged McKenna leads the ensemble cast as scrap merchant Morse. McKenna appeared in the Playhouse Studio last autumn in Held and has previously worked for companies such as the National Theatre, Shared Experience and Cheek by Jowl. The two apprentices are played by David Judge, best known for his role as Danny Valentine in Hollyoaks, and Jimmy in A Taste of Honey (Sheffield Crucible), and John McGrellis, who has appeared in The Alchemist (Liverpool Playhouse) and God's Official (Unity Theatre). Molly Taylor whose stage credits include Love Letters To The Public Transport System (National Theatre Scotland) and Accomplice (Menier Chocolate Factory) plays Jodie.