Nottingham Playhouse has a long track record of fostering homegrown theatrical productions, bringing bold and thrilling new theatre to the heart of Nottingham. We take a look at their new production, First Touch, which kicks off this week from Saturday 7 May - Saturday 21 May 2022.
Nottingham Playhouse has a long track record of fostering homegrown theatrical productions, bringing bold and thrilling new theatre to the heart of Nottingham. We take a look at their new production, First Touch, which kicks off this week from Saturday 7 May - Saturday 21 May 2022.
This week will see Nottingham Playhouse premiere their brand new production, football drama First Touch. Written by rising talent Nathaniel Price (BBC’s Noughts and Crosses and Sky’s Tin Star) and directed by Jeff James, this new play is inspired by the recent abuse scandals that have plagued the football industry.
The play is set in Thatcher’s Britain of the late seventies, and follows the story of Clayton James, a seventeen-year-old Nottingham lad with prestigious talent who’s offered a professional contract at a First Division club. Along with a growing romance with girlfriend Serena, Clayton appears to have the world at his feet. But trying to make it in an era of racism and hooliganism isn’t easy for Clayton and his family. First Touch follows him as he confronts the return of his charismatic and powerful former coach, Lafferty, and reckons with his uncomfortable past.
The production features Raphael Akuwudike in his first stage role since graduating from drama school, in the lead. He’s joined by Nicholas Bailey (Eastenders) as Patterson, Claire Goose (Waking The Dead, Casualty) as Freya, Chloe Oxley (BIFA-nominated film Just Charlie) as Serena and Arthur Wilson (Call The Midwife) as Lafferty.
Tickets are priced between £8.50-£32.50 and the show is open to ages 14+.
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