Mark Ravenhill's 2006 visceral and violent introspection on jealousy, friendship and the self-destructive nature of art, Pool (No Water) was a favourite at this year's Manchester Fringe Festival - so much so that it enjoys a rapid revival next week at the city centre's 53two venue (August 29-30).
ETAL’s reimagining of Ravenhill’s unflinching exploration of exploitation and human nature is performed in a disco setting, with a score arranged live by DJ Jess Rose.
ETAL itself is dedicated to collaborative storytelling in unconventional places. Their original production of this show was first seen in the basement of central Manchester club/restaurant YES – the venue's first live theatre production.
The play depicts four artists whose careers have been less than stellar, but whose egos are still fully intact. ETAL's disco setting offers a lightness not present in the original and softens the dark themes at the play's heart. The production features Grace Houston, Amber Gilmour, Dean Michael Gregory and Michael Loftus, all reprising their roles.
Director Arthur Loades graduated from the University of Salford in 2023 and is a supported artist of the New Adelphi Theatre. This production is his full-length directorial debut.
“I'm excited to be bringing Pool (No Water) back," said Loades. "To now be bringing the show to the iconic arches of 53two feels like a dream come true and will allow us to feel the buzzing, subversive energy of the play in a completely new way."
More info and tickets here