A POWERFUL and uplifting one-woman show is coming to Oldham as part of its UK tour following international acclaim and an award-winning run at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Build a Rocket tells the story of Yasmin, a bright 16-year-old from a small seaside town. In an instant, her world is turned upside down when she becomes pregnant with her son Jack.
Suddenly her life isn’t sandcastles, arcades, and donkey rides. Abandoned by both the father of her child and her alcoholic mother, Yasmin faces one of life’s great challenges completely alone – but can the thing which threatens to ruin her life actually be the thing which saves her?
Build a Rocket is winner of the Holden Street Theatres’ Edinburgh Fringe Award 2018, Adelaide Fringe Best Theatre Weekly Award 2019 and was named The Sunday Mail’s Best Female Solo Show (Adelaide).
The tour sees critically-acclaimed Serena Manteghi reprise her role as Yasmin as the hard-hitting yet inspiring and heart-warming production challenges perceptions about young motherhood.
Writer Christopher York said: “Teenage pregnancy is so demonised and we’re quick to blame teenagers.
“There was a girl I was at school with who had a child at 15. I was astounded at her resilience and that she went on to pass her GCSEs, go to college and university, get married and raise a wonderful human being.
“We are still conservative about these topics. If we were more open and Scandinavian about how we tackled sex and sexual health, especially with young people, we may not have the statistics we do.”
Director Paul Robinson added: “I’m delighted Build a Rocket will be going on a national tour in co- production with Tara Finney Productions.
“It’s a key strategic priority for the SJT to be touring bold, resonant and relevant contemporary work as well as to further champion local emerging artist Christopher York on a national platform.
“The tour will allow us to reach a broader spectrum of audiences geographically as well as engage directly with local schools which is a wonderful prospect.”
In addition to touring to theatres and arts centres across the UK, Build a Rocket will be performed at six schools in North Yorkshire generously supported by the Noel Coward Foundation.
Build a Rocket is touring the UK from September 13 – October 26, 2019. Age guidance 12+, contains strong language, running time 75 minutes.
It will visit Oldham Library, Greaves Street, on Wednesday, September 25. For more information visit: https://www.oldham.gov.uk/libraries