The Man Who Cracked

Toured to over 60 venues across the UK

Reviews

'Spike have an extremely talented pool of actors, and their brand of fast-paced physical theatre is reminiscent of Berkoff, whilst the unashamed fun-poking humour is more like Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson'
The Bath Chronicle

'A cast of five play fourteen characters between them as we move through echoes of fifties' TV soaps (complete with continuous product placement dialogue), fifties' science fiction, The Truman Show and even, right at the end, a suggestion of Groundhog Day. There are songs ("Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not watching you" is the actually quite impressive number at the end), stylised movement, puppets and models, and a very impressive exploding TV screen'
British Theatre Guide

'Expect the unexpected when you enter the world of Spike Theatre. The award winning team never lets you down. Imagine a cartoon bursting to life from your TV set and you have a picture of what they can achieve on stage'
Liverpool Echo

'The Man Who Cracked is a brilliant, intelligent and funny production'
The Bath Chronicle

In 2002 we thought we might do a big show! So we returned to the touring circuit with a ‘darkly comic tale of paranoia, celebrity and the risks of over-ambition’. The show poked fun at the 'reds in the bed' atmosphere that originally generated the Sci-Fi boom of Fifties America. (Dodgy accents followed.)

Featuring Klaatu from Omicron Seven – It was our first venture into interstellar casting – (and songs!) The show drew its inspirations from films such as Quiz Show, Pleasantville & The Truman Show and the short stories of Philip K Dick and Isaac Asimov. MWC featured as part of Liverpool’s bid for Capital of Culture 2008. And we like to think that we helped win the bid!

Due to the huge (really) success of the first MWC tour we mustered the strength to take it out again in 2003.

Directed by Glenn Noble
Music & songs by Simon James
Designed by Jo Pocock (with 2003 additional items by Eilidh Bryan)
Lighting design by Jon Burke.Set Construction by Mike Grey and Jon Burke.

Original Cast:
George - Liam Tobin
Wendy - Julie Walker
Harmony - Aisling Leyne
Timmy Poindexter - Tim Lynskey
Bob Bigot - Matt Rutter
Klaatu – Himself

In 2003:-
Paul Duckworth - George

Spike Theatre is the trading name of Spike Theatre Ltd, registered in England and Wales.
Company Reg No: 663 4750. Charity Reg No: 1133362
Registered Office: 17 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BQ.

Tel: +44(0)151 727 3575
Email: mail@spiketheatre.com