Writer: Nick Wood, whose recent commissions include the Crucible, Sheffield, Theatr Iolo, Radio 4, Eastern Angles, the RSC, and Nottingham Playhouse

Director: Andrew Breakwell, Associate Artist and formerly Director of Roundabout and Education at Nottingham Playhouse will direct. Recent productions include You Can Always Hand Them Back at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester. Both Nick and Andrew have recently been involved in creating a programme of live interpretation at Lincoln Castle's Victorian Prison.

Performers: Mick Jasper, Iain Armstrong

Musician: Nigel Waterhouse

Composer: Nigel Waterhouse

Designer: Nottingham Trent University/Playhouse Prize winner for 2016: Harriet Clarke

Age range:14+

Download 2016 tour schedule here... (460k PDF)
Download venues with website links here... (289k PDF)

Download Jan-April 2017 tour schedule here... (986k PDF)

Additional performances:

Neston Town Hall, Cheshire April 7: 7.30pm: box-office 0151 353 1928

Goostrey Village Hall, Cheshire April 8: 7.30pm: box-office 01477 544467

Click this link to view a video about The Underground Man

The Underground Man is a co-production between ajtc and Nottingham Playhouse where it will play in the Neville Studio from September 22 to October 8 2016, before embarking on a national and international tour

ajtc and Nottingham Playhouse present

The Underground Man

A life of fascination, obsession and deep scientific curiosity. William John Cavendish Scott-Bentinck, the 5th Duke of Portland is an eccentric English aristocrat whose imagination and curiosity know no bounds.

This deceptively simple man struggles to come to terms with a world that is teeming with new knowledge, ill-founded opinion and gossip. Why does he hide himself away? What is his fascination with tunnels? Will he ever unearth the secrets hidden in his memory?

In a sequence of events that are often bizarre and frequently hilarious he reveals moments of surprising perception and wisdom.

Adapted by Nick Wood from Mick Jackson's Booker shortlisted novel this ajtc Nottingham Playhouse co-production melds the best of both innovative companies in a free-flowing, innovative performance that features live music and a specially commissioned score.

'The Underground Man' is a delectable blend of fact and fiction in which the intriguing details of a complex life are richly explored thfrough the vibrant imagination of a gentle soul.

A journey, with a Gothic twist, through the curious tunnels of a Victorian mind.

Ideal for audiences 14+

'Soaked through with originality and expertly written: tragi-comic fiction with the most endearingly sympathetic of anti-heroes.' The Times

'A strong narrative drive, a Gothic twist and wonderful cast of secondary characters make this an entrancingly readable book.' Sunday Telegraph

'Something of a hero of mine' Bill Bryson

The Underground Man' is a work of creative imagination and is not to be considered as an historical document.

The play is based on Mick Jackson's award winning novel and was, initially, inspired by aspects of the life of the 5th. Duke of Portland.

Many characters, names, incidents, and locations and events have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes.

The production is an adaptation of a fictional work.

For bookings and information contact:

Iain Armstrong
t: 01369 830478 or 07718 049723
e: irross@btinternet.com