Michael Yates
Michael Yates (pictured) has had a series of plays performed in the past few years including:
LUVVIES: Failed playwright Steve and his bit-part actress wife Caroline are bickering over their shambolic marriage when they invite home a young award-winning writer and his drama student girlfriend for an evening of ritual humiliation. Performed at the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds in 2012.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AGAIN: Little Lenny has two big worries. First his mam and dad fight all the time. Second, there's a wicked witch living next door! How he solves both these problems is the theme of this funny/sad play, chosen for performance at the Write Now Drama Festival in Liverpool.
LUVVIES: Failed playwright Steve and his bit-part actress wife Caroline are bickering over their shambolic marriage when they invite home a young award-winning writer and his drama student girlfriend for an evening of ritual humiliation. Performed at the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds in 2012.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AGAIN: Little Lenny has two big worries. First his mam and dad fight all the time. Second, there's a wicked witch living next door! How he solves both these problems is the theme of this funny/sad play, chosen for performance at the Write Now Drama Festival in Liverpool.
THE BRONTE BOY: Young Branwell Bronte, who once ruled an imaginary world, is now a man, grown mad trying to cope with the real one. Having failed as a poet and painter, as doomed in love as he is in literature, he slips ever more quickly down the road of drink, drugs and despair. His loving father Patrick and talented sister Charlotte fight a last-ditch stand for his salvation. But it is Branwell’s sinister friend,
gravedigger John Brown, who threatens to have the last word in this
terrifying take on the brilliant family we have read so much
about and all thought we knew so well. The Bronte Boy was performed at Bradford Playhouse, the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds, the Square Chapel in Halifax and Wakefield Theatre Royal, where lead actor Warwick St John won the 2011 Wakefield Festival Best Actor award. In 2013 a new production was commissioned by the Bronte Society for its AGM weekend and there were two more perormances at the Carriageworks.
gravedigger John Brown, who threatens to have the last word in this
terrifying take on the brilliant family we have read so much
about and all thought we knew so well. The Bronte Boy was performed at Bradford Playhouse, the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds, the Square Chapel in Halifax and Wakefield Theatre Royal, where lead actor Warwick St John won the 2011 Wakefield Festival Best Actor award. In 2013 a new production was commissioned by the Bronte Society for its AGM weekend and there were two more perormances at the Carriageworks.
LIFE SENTENCE: Annie pursues her unfaithful husband with a meat cleaver, but there are even darker revelations in store. Performed at The Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds, Henry Boons in Wakefield, The Library Theatre in Pontefract and AXM theatre club in Manchester. Winner of the Stanley Arnold Trophy at the Sheffield One-Act Play Festival, 2009.
THE NAVIGATOR’S DAUGHTER: Alice is searching for love – but it comes in a brutal package and spells misery for her young daughter Maudie. Fifty years of turbulent family life. Performed at Wakefield's Powerhouse One Theatre.
QWERTYUIOP: Women behaving badly – over men, politics and work. Follow the fun and heartbreak with a group of unemployed women retraining to be typists in Thatcher's Britain. Performed at Featherstone Community Theatre and Powerhouse One.
TILL MY EYES BLEED: Loyal Mel hires the theatre to host a wake
for his best friend Adrian. But it soon becomes apparent – to everyone
except Mel – that Mel’s wife had enjoyed a passionate affair with the now dead man. Performed at The Carriageworks, Henry Boons and Ilkley Festival Fringe.
ALL GOOD MEN: A Labour party conference is shocked by the
sudden death of a popular prime minister and a bitter leadership battle ensues. Sexy Lady Bridgewater plots to ensure the rise of her cabinet minister husband, using whatever means – or man – comes to hand. Performed at The Carriageworks and Saltaire’s Victoria Hall.
A REAL CUSHY NUMBER: The night shift porters in a major hospital nervously await a death on the wards. Performed at Featherstone Theatre.
THE NAVIGATOR’S DAUGHTER: Alice is searching for love – but it comes in a brutal package and spells misery for her young daughter Maudie. Fifty years of turbulent family life. Performed at Wakefield's Powerhouse One Theatre.
QWERTYUIOP: Women behaving badly – over men, politics and work. Follow the fun and heartbreak with a group of unemployed women retraining to be typists in Thatcher's Britain. Performed at Featherstone Community Theatre and Powerhouse One.
TILL MY EYES BLEED: Loyal Mel hires the theatre to host a wake
for his best friend Adrian. But it soon becomes apparent – to everyone
except Mel – that Mel’s wife had enjoyed a passionate affair with the now dead man. Performed at The Carriageworks, Henry Boons and Ilkley Festival Fringe.
ALL GOOD MEN: A Labour party conference is shocked by the
sudden death of a popular prime minister and a bitter leadership battle ensues. Sexy Lady Bridgewater plots to ensure the rise of her cabinet minister husband, using whatever means – or man – comes to hand. Performed at The Carriageworks and Saltaire’s Victoria Hall.
A REAL CUSHY NUMBER: The night shift porters in a major hospital nervously await a death on the wards. Performed at Featherstone Theatre.
THE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR: Pupils in Mrs Crotchet’s music class are bored. But a strange visitor on a magic train takes them on a fantastic voyage to discover the sounds they love. Children’s play performed at Overthorpe school in Dewsbury.
PONTEFRACTIONS: Satirical history of Pontefract, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the town. Performed at Pontefract Town Hall.
DOUBLECROSS: Tale of sexual and emotional betrayal, co-written with Helen Shay, performed at the Carriageworks and Otley Courthouse.
BRICK WALL: Prize-winning film based on award-winning dramatic monologue.
For more information about Michael Yates – as poet, short story writer, journalist and educator – go to www.michael-yates.co.uk
PONTEFRACTIONS: Satirical history of Pontefract, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the town. Performed at Pontefract Town Hall.
DOUBLECROSS: Tale of sexual and emotional betrayal, co-written with Helen Shay, performed at the Carriageworks and Otley Courthouse.
BRICK WALL: Prize-winning film based on award-winning dramatic monologue.
For more information about Michael Yates – as poet, short story writer, journalist and educator – go to www.michael-yates.co.uk