“It’s like a horror film,’ says Barbara as she races around in the dark, chasing one side of the crowd and then the other at the call of ‘Dinner Time!’

It certainly feels like we’ve stepped into an alternative world – and the rush of excitement and adrenaline has everyone leaving on a high. It’s genius.

Comedienne, Janice Connolly, known to Phoenix Night’s fans as Holy Mary, originally created her alter-ego, Barbara Nice to inject a bit more kindness into the comedy circuit. While most comics faced a rowdy crowd with an armour of choice language, blue jokes and turning their sharp wit against the audience, Barbara Nice kept it clean – winning them over with idle chit-chat, silly games and a sing-song.

Billed as an ordinary housewife, mother of five, keen Take A Break reader and occasional stage-diver, Barbara Nice is the woman who starts chatting to you on a bus and you’re quite happy to listen.

Dressed in a sleeveless leopard print dress, she tells us about her TKMaxx bargains, gives out big hugs to those who take to the stage with her, and steps back for just the right time to let an audience member take the shine of the spotlight. The effect is a party atmosphere of camaraderie that feels spontaneous and playful. At the same time this is clearly a tight and well-timed act, and for the audience the evening goes by in a flash.

At the Roundabout pop-up theatre there is a mix of ages and everyone is up for joining in from the start, with the whole theatre standing up for a mimed game of curling, before bursting into a chorus of Spandau Ballet’s ‘Gold’.

The show is called Raffle, and as it suggests there is a free raffle at the centre of it. Barbara spins us right round like a raffle and the stakes are high – the top prize is a tinned pie.

She later wields her comedy magic wand to turn us all into squirrels and asks whose seen her slide belly first down the stairs on a tea tray?

It sounds like an apocryphal tale, but when Barbara tells it, we all want to believe it’s true. At the Roundabout one audience member claims to know someone who had seen her do just that during a show at Sale Waterside. Whether she did or didn’t, it’s now the stuff of legend – and we can’t wait for Barbara Nice to stop off this way again to see what she does next.

Barbara Nice: Raffle was at Roundabout, Ordsall Park in conjunction with The Lowry, Salford Quays on 6 September 2018.

The post Playing for tinned peas with Barbara Nice appeared first on Quays Life.

Over four days the travelling venue will showcase three plays from Paines Plough, as well as hosting comedy from Barbara Nice, community events and church services.

Actor, Katherine Pearce recently received a highly acclaimed ‘The Stage Edinburgh Award’ for her performance in ‘Island Town’ at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe.

She reprises her award-winning role in the play by Simon Longman, a bittersweet story about friendship, hope and dreams of an escape. Playing 8 characters across the three plays, Katherine can also be seen in ‘Sticks and Stones’ by Vinay Patel, a satire about what happens when the wrong word just slips out; and ‘How to Spot an Alien’ by Georgia Christou, about one confused alien, two brave kids and a busted spaceship.

As well as high quality acts the portable venue promises the full-theatre experience with cutting edge sound and lighting, comfortable seats and a great view of the stage. It is also fully wheelchair accessible, with four wheelchair spaces available and located on a step-free site. There is also space to store buggies.

Roundabout has a built in T-Loop available for every performance and personal assistants are entitled to a free ticket.

Previously Roundabout has popped-up at Little Hulton Goes Large festival (2017), Love Eccles Festival (2016) and The Lowry Plaza (2015).
Tickets to all plays are £5 and many of the community events are free.

Roundabout is at Ordsall Park from Thu 6 – Sun 9 September 2018. Visit The Lowry website for full details.

The post Roundabout pops-up in Ordsall Park appeared first on Quays Life.