Jason Manford to star in one-man Lowry show to mark anniversary of lockdown

He will be handed the script live on-stage and will immediately perform the text to an audience watching at home on Zoom

Written by Louise Rhind-Tutt
Last updated 3 years ago
Theatre

Jason Manford is set to perform an un-rehearsed, one-man show at The Lowry this Saturday 13th March as part of a global event to mark the anniversary of lockdown.

The show, White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Aurora Nova and Nassim Soleimanpour, is one of the most widely performed plays in the world.

The play was conceived in 2011 and requires no set, no direction and no rehearsal.

It’s been translated into over 30 languages and performed by some of the most respected actors in the business including actors Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, John Hurt, Simon McBurney, Stephen Fry, Sinead Cusack, Marcus Brigstocke and Ken Loach.

Joining that prestigious line-up, Jason will be handed the script live on-stage and will immediately perform the text to an audience watching at home on Zoom.

Tickets for the one-off performance are £10 per household, with all proceeds being donated to The Lowry’s ‘Emergency Appeal’, a fund set-up in March 2020 to help support the Salford charity through the Coronavirus pandemic.

Performances are taking place at 8pm in every time zone around the world – creating a wave of theatrical performances by actors daring to take to the stage with a text they have not seen before, in front of a live audience.

“I’m proud to be following in the footsteps of some truly great actors in performing White Rabbit Red Rabbit,” said Jason.

“It’s a very sad anniversary that we’ve reached, but the end is in sight and I hope this event raises lots of much-needed funds to support The Lowry through this difficult time.”

“We’re proud to be taking part in this global event to highlight the longest theatre shutdown in modern history,” said Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry.

“Jason is no stranger to The Lowry and we couldn’t think of a better Salford voice to take on the task of performing White Rabbit Red Rabbit.”

The Lowry building is currently closed until Monday 17th May in line with the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Tickets for White Rabbit Red Rabbit, priced at £10 per household, are on sale now at thelowry.com.

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