As part of her ongoing post-show Q&A series, Mates co-founder Terri Paddock is back at Tristan Bates Theatre for the world premiere of Mites from Blueleaf Theatre. Got any questions for writer, director and cast?
I love working with ambitious young companies, and Blueleaf Theatre, founded in 2016 with the aim of staging new writing in imaginative new ways, falls firmly into that category. Looking forward to talking to them about the company as well as their second project with playwright James Mannion…
“Sometimes I wake up in the morning and all the missed opportunities of my life stare at me, grind me down until I’m nothing. Nothing but dust.”
A new darkly comic, absurdist play, Mites is a sinister exploration of the manipulation that lies beneath relationships, in particular of those who are mentally vulnerable in society.
A lonely woman, abandoned by her husband, lives in an isolated house with her outspoken, anthropomorphic cat, Bartholomew. One day she is visited by Ken, a Pest Controller, who claims to be her ex-husband returned to her. Deceived by his lies and obsessed with memories of the past, the woman accepts Ken into her life, despite the sceptical protestations of Bartholomew.
As her self-deception grows and Ken’s true intentions become clear, how will she survive the competitive machinations of her two male companions? And is there more to Bartholomew than meets the eye?
Mites is written by James Mannion, whose “strong, fascinating” (London Pub Theatres) play Hedgehogs & Porcupines was developed and premiered by Blueleaf Theatre Company at Old Red Lion Theatre in 2018. The premiere production is helmed by Blueleaf artistic director Marcus Marsh and designed by Cecilia Trono with lighting by Daniel Spreadborough.
Terri Paddock founded WhatsOnStage.com and the WhatsOnStage Awards, running the company and its events from 1996 to 2013. Terri is also the author of two novels, Come Clean and Beware the Dwarfs, and has previously written for the Evening Standard, Independent, The Times and other national publications. She is renowned for her 'legendary' post-show Q&As and also produces the annual Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and acts as a digital, content strategy and event consultant for theatre, producers and other clients. She tweets about theatre at @TerriPaddock.
