VIDEO PREVIEW: Haunting classic play The Weir to tour Yorkshire theatres

In Brendan’s remote bar in rural Ireland, the locals nurse their pints while telling tales of local folklore – old and new.

The desire to impress a stranger takes these tales of confessions to a new level, but none of them could be prepared for the one they are about to hear.

The play - coming to Harrogate, Doncaster and Huddersfield, full details below - is as much about lack of close relationships and missed connections as it is about anything else.

The Weir, described as one of the best plays of the last century, won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play of 1997–98.

VIDEO: In conversation with the cast of The Weir - CLICK HERE.

Now, with a version directed by Adele Thomas, it is on a UK tour presented by English Touring Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester.

The creative team includes designer Madeleine Girling, lighting designer Lee Curran, Richard Hammarton as composition and sound designer, with casting by Ginny Schiller.

The production is the second to be toured to the Regional Touring Network an Arts Council England Strategic Touring consortium of nine regional venues with whom ETT produce and tour high quality drama to venues looking to develop their drama audience.

It follows the success of English Touring Theatre and Orange Tree Theatre’s production of Terence Rattigan’s French Without Tears which toured in autumn 2016.

English Touring Theatre is one of the UK’s most successful and influential touring companies, winning the UK Theatre Awards Best Touring Production in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The company works with leading artists to stage an eclectic mix of new and classic work for audiences throughout the UK and overseas; theatre that is thrilling, popular and engaged in the contemporary world.

At the heart of everything ETT does is the passionately held belief that everyone, wherever they are in the country, deserves to have access to the very best work.

In 2017 ETT will tour to 40 venues throughout the UK.

THE WEIR TOUR DATES

Harrogate Theatres, September 19- 23, Box Office: 01423 50116 or visit www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

Cast, Doncaster, October 3–7. Box Office: 01302 340422 or visit www.castindoncaster.com

Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, November 14-18. Box office 01484 430528, visit www.thelbt.orgLINKS

www.ett.org.uk@ETTtweetwww.mercurytheatre.co.uk @mercurytheatre