Something Underground presents
Happy Hour
by Jonathan Brown - directed by Denise Evans
It’s more than an hour, and it’s not always happy. A dark comedy… One man’s odyssey, to save his son and his own sanity, from the sinister forces he’s exposed them both to. (formerly “Licence”)“A spellbinding event” Maurice Hindle (Writer, Educator, Editor) Bernie wants his pub to be “child friendly”, a party atmosphere, a sort of… Santa’s Grotto, with himself as Father Christmas. But he’s so busy making his dream come true, that his own ten year-old son, Teddy, doesn’t get a look in. Blind to his son’s need for love, his wife’s need for moderation and his best friend’s need for honesty, Bernie sails his prized ship, The Toby, directly and decisively, onto the rocks. Funny, full of laughter, moving, disturbing, poignant, and emotionally satisfying. One man’s odyssey, to save his son and his own sanity, from the sinister forces he’s exposed them both to. 5 Stars. (Latest 7) 4 Stars (Fringe Review) 4 Stars (Three weeks) 5 Stars “A perfect piece of theatre. Writer/actor Jonathan Brown takes you on a complex, funny and harrowing journey…. portrayed brilliantly, Brown has a terrific eye for social observation…. a profoundly moving piece of theatre. If you’re only going to see one play this festival, you’d be hard pressed to beat this.” Latest 7 Magazine, Brighton Fringe 2010. “We were both really impressed with both the script and the performance. You are a wonderful, wonderful storyteller and totally captivated us. I thought you managed the multiple characters with elegance and the physical and vocal characterisation was very strong. I loved the humour, the darkness, the dangerous territories and the power of the message. I felt in that intimate space we were seeing you unravel a part of your soul….wish you every success for the rest of the run. I hope many people come to see it, for their benefit as well as yours.” Anita Sullivan, Playwright. Website: http://www.somethingunderground.co.uk/licence/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/somethingunderground Twitter: @somethingunder Happy Hour Written and performed by Jonathan Brown Winner: Best Male Performer, Brighton Fringe 2013 Nominated: Best Male Performer, Brighton Fringe 2007 Winner: Best New Play Award, Brighton Fringe 2012 Shortlisted: Best New Play Award, Brighton Fringe 2013 Directed by Denise Evans BEST ACTRESS (nom) Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Awards for A View From the Bridge BEST ACTRESS (nom) Manchester Evening News North West Theatre Awards for Decadence BEST ACTRESS NSDF Sunday Times Theatre Awards for Decadence Director of “Memoirs of a Hermaphrodite” and many more. Including Music performed & recorded by James Waters Biog: Jonathan Brown From 1997, Jonathan moved into performance with small-scale Bristol & Brighton (UK) theatre & dance companies. In 2002 he joined Jonathan Kay’s Romeo & Juliet project for 18 months with Theatre of Now. In 2005, he joined The Festival of Fools, improvised theatre company until 2011. In 2006, Jonathan founded Something Underground Theatre Company focussing initially on one man shows written and performed by him, with The Father Monologues (Part 1 – Danny), Large Print Trash (Best Male Performer (nom) Brighton Fringe 2007), The Father Monologues (Part 3 – Billy) and Licence. These shows were included on The Fatherhood Institute site and The 2009 NCT Annual Conference.In 2011, Jonathan created his first play for a cast, The Well, at the New Venture Theatre (the NVT's 600th production), to warm reviews. In 2012 his next (10-hander) play The Last Lunch, (which he wrote, produced, directed and performed in) was a winner of Best New Play in the Brighton Fringe. In 2013, Jonathan co-financed, directed and performed in The Well again, and co-produced his new one-woman show, Betsy: Wisdom of a Brighton Whore, performed by Rachel Guershon. He also wrote and performed The Silent Stream, won Best Male Performer, and was shortlisted Best New Play, Brighton Fringe 2013. In 2014, The Last Lunch was back again, alongside a new production of Betsy with Elle Dillon Reams, and his new one woman show, Smoking Ban, with Kate Goodfellow (Best Female Performer, Btn Fringe, for Smoking Ban) Jonathan’s new one man show, Iron John, an improvised show based on the Grimm Brother’s tale rounded off 2014. In 2015 he performed his new entirely-improvised one man show, “Je Suis: A Fool’s Guide to Cliff Edges” In 2016 Jonathan completed writing, producing, directing and playing in (7-hander) “A Good Jew”, continued performing his solo improvised shows, and created a rehearsed reading of new play Illegitimate, Target (working Title) In 2017 Jonathan performed You Can’t Watch This Play, Happy Hour (formerly Licence), Large Print Trash, Dying to Meet You, and created Showcase Performances of new play Illegitimate, Target (working Title) at South Hill Park, Bracknell. 2018 sees several shows being aired, including The Silent Stream, Large Print Trash, Happy Hour, You Can't Watch this Play (again) and the ongoing preparations for a long run of Illegitimate, Target at a London theatre (tbc) in Feb 2019. Jonathan performs theatrical storytellings for children with (singer/songwriter) Annika Brown, leads classes in performance & creative writing, is a resident teacher at The Cockpit Theatre, London, has enjoyed a development period with New Writing South & been Associate Artist with Bridgwater Arts Centre. |
Tuesday 26th June at 7pm
Wednesday 27th June at 7pm Thursday 28th June at 7pm Friday 29th June at 7pm Tickets: £10 | Concessions: £8
Running time: 2hrs incl. 15min interval 14+ only. Strong language, implied sexual content, implied violence. Adult themes. . Ticket purchases are non refundable. Concession prices apply to students; under 18s; pensioners; those on disability and unemployment benefits; Equity, BECTU & SDUK members; Portico Places cardholders. As a young venue we are still upgrading and developing the space, any additional donations are much appreciated and will be used towards improving the theatre even further and keeping the venue going in the long-term. |
