Hat Hair Productions

  Philip Larkin (Daniel Thackeray) and Margaret Thatcher (Carly Tarett). Photography by Laura Kelly and graphic design by Colin Brockhurst I'm thrilled to finally announced the 2025 tour of our new production, Philip Larkin: Masterspy, a comedy by Mark Griffiths. I directed the original production of this new piece in January for our friends at Room 5064 Productions, for whom I have directed other shows, including Mark's play We Apologise for the Inconvenience (2018-20) and Sitcom Stories (2019). Masterspy, a hilarous 1980s-set farce thriller featuring several real cultural icons of the period, went down very well with audiences in Manchester, and so Room 5064 gave us at Hat Hair Productions their blessing to take the piece on tour. The original cast, Daniel Thackeray and Carly Tarett, will be returning to their roles. Here's the trailer and a summary of the show: 1985.  Tasked by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with carrying out an audacious piece of international...

Here are links to view a videoed performance of Under Manc Wood, our award-winning production from 2015. Written by Chris Kelly and Penny Edwards, the play is a modern Manchester take on Dylan Thomas's classic poetic play for Welsh voices, Under Milk Wood.  Befitting its inspiration in a piece originally written for radio, Under Manc Wood begins in BBC Radio 4 recording studio, before spilling out into a new reality. Under Manc Wood is directed by Ross Kelly and stars Penelope McDonald as Manchester, with Edward Barry, Sam Murphy, Steve Cain, Victoria May, Liam Grunshaw, Daniel Thackeray and Annette Evans. Under Manc Wood - Part One Under Manc Wood - Part Two