Knife Edge

What would you do if your son were murdered and you knew who did it? Like James Bulgar's Mum and Dad or the family of Rhys Jones. I have heard said from scores of people the line "Give me five minutes in a room and I'll sort them out". But let's say the rules changed and you were allowed to be locked in a room with a murderer - what would you really do? What if you challenge them, in front of your community to a duel to the death, an eye for an eye?

Knife Edge by Mark Whiteley opens at the Lowry before touring nationally later this spring.

I hope you find it interesting

Bad News

I've got some bad news I'm afraid. I have just heard the unfortunate news that the Arts Council have cut our funding for Knife Edge, this makes the process of making a fantastic, innovative piece of theatre very difficult, but not impossible. I spent last weekend deep in self pity and bemoaning every one and every thing. This is good for a day or two but doesn't get things done. On Monday I picked myself up, dusted myself down and started what a good (I use that word loosely of course) producer has to do when the sh*t hits the fan - I started hustling.

I have had to cut back, but somehow I have managed to keep hold of my director, Adam Sunderland (nominated for TMA award this year) and so far 50% of my cast (I'll tell you when I've contracted them). This is testament to both Adam and the script. I have managed to make the sums add up, but I really need your help. Because of the shortfall I need bums on seats to survive. Losing our funding will have no bearing on the quality of this performance, it just means we have to be more inventive - but the arts are good at that.

So please, tell your friends, book a ticket and come and support the arts.

Thank you for your support

"The most exiting piece of theatre you'll ever see" Mark Whiteley 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Be up standing for Hard Graft's latest tour of Knife Edge by Mark Whiteley. We will endeavor to wow you with feats of great pretense. Actors will be dressing up and shall amaze you with their line learning capabilities.

But seriously, buy a ticket and tell your friends - Knife Edge is a new breed, faster, fiercer and will kill you dead.

April 2010
16/17 The Lowry Salford 0843 208 6000
22 The Arc Trowbridge (matinee & evening performance) 0845 299 0476
29 South Holland Centre Spalding 01775 764777
30 Rich Mix Bethnal Green London 020 7613 7498
May
6 The Maltings St. Albans 01727 844222
7 The Civic Hall Uppermill 0161 624 2829
8 Newark Palace 01636 655755
11 Paisley Arts (matinee & evening performance) 0141 887 1010
13 Guildhall Derby (matinee & evening performance) 01332 255800
14 Square Chapel Halifax 01422 349 422
18 Forum 28 Barrow-In Furness 01229 820000
20 CAP Centre Smethwick, West Midlands
27 Lakeside Arts Nottingham 0115 846 777

I will announce the cast next week. We've got some great actors for you though.....

Time the sleeping giant woke.

Sorry I haven't written much, been writing Knife Edge (fifth draft). The original idea was about a man challenging the murderer of his son to a duel to the death. to discover what it must be like to go to the depths of despair and to come up again. Now on draft five, its about more, much more and I urge you to see what I believe is my finest play.

I've got a rash on my stomach, it's stress I think. I've applied for funding for my next production, Knife Edge which starts rehearsing in 4 weeks. I've contacted actors, but as yet I can't contract them until I know exactly how much money I have. It's all very very stressful.

I went down to Nottingham this week to meet up with an actor we want to use for Knife Edge. He's performing in a show at the Nottingham Playhouse called Forever Young. Can I take this opportunity to review the show. it's great. really funny with some excellent clowning and superb musical interludes, I urge you to see it.

I went down to Manchester on Friday to say a quick hello and drop some things off for Hard Graft patron Amanda Holden. Amanda is in her fourth year of judging Britains Got Talent and by the number of paps outside waiting for a glimps of her they're doing rather well. Good luck Amanda.

Knife Edge - our next production had a brilliant reading last week at the Lowry. 25 industry friends (actors, writers, agents, directors and producers) came along to have a listen to what I've been writing for the last 6 months. I was bricking it! Adam Sunderland and the cast had worked their butts off to get it into shape and it was moving, funny, interesting and everything I want it to be with 3 months to go till D -Day. I have a feeling about this play, a deep sense that this is it, this is the one.

I'm also pleased that I've been asked by Reform Theatre Company (great company in Sheffield) to re-think Thick As Thieves. I can report that it's going very well indeed. You'll be able to see this one October and November 2010 in a theatre near you.

knife point for knife edge.

Happy new year.

Hope you had a good Christmas? We're still digging out after the longest cold spell since the last one when the dinosaurs 'got it'.

I am bored with snow, with pushing cars and things being cancelled.

Any way thank you if you came to see the Elves and the Shoemaker we doubled last year's audience and look set to move next year's show to a 200 seater venue to keep up with demand. This week we had an extra performance in Helmsey North Yorkshire. We left Manchester at 7am because of the - 17 temperatures and arrived in Helmsey with more snow falling. there is no business like snow business. 2 shows later and we're driving home in treacherous conditions with a £1,500 insurance excess on the hire van down Sutton Bank.

Bloody bricking it! three actors in a van making life and death decisions based on how quick we'll get home (if you go round you add an hour on the journey). I'm still having flashbacks 4 days on.

Hard Graft Theatre Co. are having a rehearsed reading tomorrow with 4 actors at the Lowry of Knife Edge a new play I've been writing. It's a scary time for me, I've spent weeks alone thinking and writing this story only to have complete strangers have their say on my work.


wish me luck

Mark Whiteley

The show always goes on.

Since I started Hard Graft we have only ever cancelled one show back in 1999 when we were doing Thick as Thieves in a shop in Nottingham. The first night was packed with friends and family and went down a storm. however, someone forgot to tell the population of Nottingham that we were on for three weeks and our second night was supported only by one lady. The Equity rule I think has something to do with the amount of cast out numbering the audience so Dan and I decided to cancel and offer the lady a ticket at a later date. Word soon spread and we played to packed houses for three weeks.

This week Saddleworth has been covered with snow. our sell our houses have been diminished to those willing to walk to the theatre in ski suits. My mobile and the office phone has been rung off the hook with people asking if we've cancelled. I will never cancel a show Clare comes from the other side of Manchester and David drives from Leeds, so I feel if they can get through the blizzards we must go on.

I'll leave you with these words

There's no business like show business like no business I know
You get word before the show has started that your favorite uncle died at dawn
Top of that, your pa and ma have parted, you're broken-hearted, but you go on

There's no people like show people, they smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far, that night you open and there you are
Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star, let's go on with the show!!

Merry Christmas and thank you all for your support.

See you next year

mark