Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013 – The Hard Man – In Your Face Theatre

THE HARD MAN

Written by Jimmy Boyle and Tom McGrath

The Wee Red Bar” Edinburgh Art College, Lauriston Place, EH3 9DF from 19-26 August. 7:00pm-8:45pm 

For information on tickets click here  

 In Your Face Theatre are making their debut at the 2013 Edinburgh fringe with a heart-pounding site specific production of “The Hard Man”. One of Scotland’s most influential plays adapted to to modern times. With what may be be one of the most unique experiences at this year’s festival, the production brings the audience and cast together. Be it  laughing, crying and drinking as one at the bar. With the drinks flowing, this highly emotional, and at times very comedic, violent cabaret drama, will leave its audience with an unforgettable experience they may never remember.

 The company aims to create audience – incorporating experiences and this modern day adaptation and unique theatre production simply invites the audience to sit at the bar and have a drink with Jimmy Boyle and his cronies. With live music, scenes of both a violent and comedic nature and plenty of cast/audience interaction, this is a show just as much for your non-theatre goers as it is for your die hard thespian. One where the audience is at the very heart of the story, as part of a Glasgow-themed pub night.

Marking 40 years since Jimmy Boyle participated in the Barlinnie Prison rehabilitation programme this production of “The Hard Man” promises to not only be the most original , but also the most invigorating experience of this play to date. Albeit based on his life, he never wanted this to be autobiographical. This play was about the manipulating effect society can have on a young man and the corruption and violence which exists in the justice system. Messages which are very much still relevant today. It is why to demonstrate this ‘In Your Face Theatre’ have staged this play in present day Glasgow. Using the fantastic venue to full effect the audience are entertained with a violent and comedic cabaret telling the story of central character Johnny Boyle’s’s life in the bars and streets of Glasgow. Act 2 see’s Boyle imprisoned in a fully working steel cage as his violent prison stretch is presented through his eyes.

The production stars New York Film School graduate Stuart-Patrick Workman and sees Artistic Director Christopher Rybak return to the fringe for his third consecutive year after highly successful productions of “Petrol Jesus Nightmare” and “Dracula”.

With its run at the festival and a preview on 30 June 2013 ‘In Your Face Theatre’ hopes to generate enough success to take this production on tour around the bars of Scotland.