Theatre
Created by director Andrew Pearson and writer Richard Vergette and working as a theatrical collective, the company seeks to produce challenging and dynamic new work for theatre, as well as established plays and musicals, using creative practitioners from a variety of backgrounds.
In 2007 Richard Vergette's play An Englishman's Home was enthusiastically received at the 24:7 Festival in Manchester, before transferring to The Library Theatre the following year.
In 2009 Vergette’s new work As We Forgive Them won the audience choice award at the 24:7 festival as well as the Vicky Allen Memorial Award, presented by the North West Branch of Equity. It was nominated for four Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards and won Best Fringe Production. It transferred to the Bolton Octagon and then to the Young Vic Studio in London.
The production officially launched the company's new home in Hull - Fruit - before traveling to the Tobacco Factory in Bristol and the Cardiff Millennium Centre.
In December 2010 Richard Vergette's new piece for the festive season, The Last Soldier, premiered at Fruit.
As We Forgive Them transferred to The Arcola Theatre in London in January 2011 for a four week run.
In February 2011 the company produced the first of the now regular Scratch@Fruit nights - a platform for the development of new writing for the stage.
Vergette's new political thriller Nice was premiered at Studio Salford as part of the Manchester International Festival Fringe Not Part Of festival in 2011, winning a Forever Manchester 5* Award.
The Last Soldier
Nice
"Devotion to accuracy" - What's On Stage ****
"Fantastic Political and Personal Drama" - Large Manchester *****
As We Forgive Them
"Artfully balanced production" - The Guardian
“As We Forgive Them satisfies on every level and benefits from a pair of great performances… Vergette delivers a complex character showing the grief of Daniels and his strong commitment to his ideals.Yet there is a realistic ambiguity that leaves us guessing about the character’s motives.
The tense atmosphere created by Andrew Pearson’s clear direction, which is so subtle, it becomes apparent only when a change in mood gives the audience some slight relief.
Vergette’s script tackles themes of guilt, redemption, forgiveness and ambition but does so within the framework of an absorbing thriller that secures complete concentration. Like the best writers he flatters the audience into thinking they have guessed the ending and then throws in a credible surprise twist… As We Forgive Them delivers a thought – provoking drama in the form of an absorbing and effective thriller and should not be missed.” - What’s On Stage *****
“SET in America last year with a new President elected, a teacher arrives at a state penitentiary to give lessons to a convicted murderer classed as retarded.
But as Richard Vergette's fascinating work unravels, we learn that the teacher, played by Vergette himself, is Congressman John Daniels and it was his daughter who was murdered by the prisoner. Will he exact revenge or succeed in teaching him about redemption?
Both Vergette and Joe Simms, who plays the prisoner Lee Fenton are two first rate actors, and it shows in their delivery and timing. As they progress from tutor and pupil to a very different relationship, it's one full of unexpected surprises.
Expertly directed by Andrew Pearson, this is another example of the high standard of quality productions which are part of this year's Festival. Not to be missed.” - Manchester Evening News ****
As We Forgive Them played to sell out houses at the 24:7 Festival in Manchester in 2009 before transferring to the Bolton Octagon and the Young Vic Studio, London.
An Englishman’s Home
“Vergette's An Englishman's Home offered a provocative study which ranged wide across the absurdities of the English class system, the inadequacies of modern materialism, the knee-jerk hypocrisy of the British press, and the inarticulacy of 21st century sexuality. Directed with great economy by Andrew Pearson, the performance by Vergette was a tour-de-force.” Paul Vallely - The Independent
“A very well-constructed piece of drama, elegantly writte n and given a compelling performance by its writer, Richard Vergette.” David Chadderton - British theatre Guide