Art & Theatre / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Tourist Attractions Norfolk and Suffolk February 17, 2023
Norfolk poet brings final trilogy play ‘home’ as part of national tour
Luke Wright’s The Remains of Logan Dankworth at Norwich Arts Centre 23 Feb prior to March London date
The Remains of Logan Dankworth is the third and final instalment of Luke Wright’s trilogy of political verse plays. As we continue to discover the lingering legacy of Brexit the play, set in 2016 as the referendum campaigns build, centres on themes of privilege and trust between married couples, between voters and politicians and trust and truth in the media.
After an extensive 2020 tour suffered multiple Covid caused postponements (and who could have predicted that the tour of a show about Brexit could be delayed and drawn out!), Luke feared the opportunity to perform the play around the country was lost. But now, following a successful run at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe the play will tour extensively in the first half of 2023 with a date at Norwich Arts Centre, his ‘home’ venue on 23 Feb and a London run at Pleasance Theatre on 8, 9 and 10 March
‘His performance rumbles with rage, passion and humour, peppered with brilliantly smart observations.’ Arifa Akbar, The Guardian
Logan Dankworth, newspaper columnist and Twitter warrior, grew up romanticising the political turmoil of the 1980s. Now, as the EU Referendum looms he is determined to be right there in the fray of the biggest political battle for years. Meanwhile, Logan’s wife Megan wants to leave London to find a better place to raise their daughter. As tensions mount at home and across the nation, something is set to be lost forever. Can we ever learn to trust each other again?
‘a superb hour of pointed and timely storytelling, extraordinary and eloquent’ ★★★★ Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman
The first two plays in the trilogy, What I Learned from Johnny Bevan and Frankie Vah, won praise from critics and audiences alike for their ‘mature, lyrical and politically relevant poetic writing’ (Exeunt), laced with wit, compassion and laser precision in dissecting the emotions of people affected by
Luke said ‘The Remains of Logan Dankworth’ is certainly the most complex and one of the most mature things I’ve written. As with my previous plays there is a strong personal story occurring against the backdrop of political upheaval. The previous plays dealt with the effects on real people of Thatcherism and the legacy of New Labour. This features a man approaching middle age excited by the febrile nature of British politics while trying to hold things together at home.’
‘a hurtling, headlong hour of storytelling stuffed full of savage satire and astute observations’ ★★★★ The Stage
2023 sees Luke Wright enter his 25th year as a performance poet. Luke is one of the region’s great exports, from his Bungay base he takes poetry all over the world, is a regular on national radio and has made several national TV appearances.
Flamboyant, political and riotously funny, Luke’s published work includes three full collections, three pamphlets and the three verse plays. He is the winner of a Fringe First, a Stage Award for Acting Excellence and three Saboteur Awards.
Luke began performing his poems at the age of 17 and has been a professional poet since graduating from University of East Anglia. In that time he has taken his verse around the world including performing in Australia and China. He has become a regular at the Edinburgh Fringe, had several books published and won numerous awards including a Fringe First and a Stage Award for Acting Excellence. He is a regular on Radio 4 and Radio 3, he has appeared on national TV and on film his poetry has been voiced by Robert Lindsay and David Soul.
He has always been interested in real people’s lives, he vast majority of his poems tell stories about people and the circumstances, events, triumphs and tragedies that shape their lives.
The Remains of Logan Dankworth is directed by Alex Thorpe who also directed Frankie Vah and has three Royal Shakespeare Company productions under his belt. Music for the show was written and performed by musician and writer Polly Wright with dramaturgy by Sarah Dickenson and lighting design by Joe Price. It was co-commissioned by Norwich Arts Centre, National Centre for Writing, Colchester Arts Centre and Freedom Festival. See a short trailer here.
‘Satirically gets the measure of our hysteria-wedded age… The language has a joyous alliterative swagger’ ★★★★ Telegraph
Listings info:
The Remains of Logan Dankworth by Luke Wright
A fast-paced and thrilling verse play about intertwined marital and political upheaval, trust. Told in blistering verse by one of the UK’s most celebrated poets.
23 February 8pm
Norwich Norwich Arts Centre St Benedict’s Street, NR2 4PG
£15 01603 660352 https://norwichartscentre.co.uk
8/9/10 March 7.30pm
London Pleasance Theatre, Carpenter’s Mews, North Road, N7 9EF
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