Michael Yates
Michael Yates (pictured) has had a series of plays performed in the past few years including:
THE BRONTE BOY Young Branwell Bronte, who once ruled an imaginary
world, is now a man, grown mad trying to cope with the real one. Having failed as a poet and painter, as doomed in love as he is in literature, he slips ever more quickly down the road of drink, drugs and despair. His loving father Patrick and talented sister Charlotte fight a last-ditch stand for his
salvation, but it is Branwell’s sinister friend, gravedigger John Brown, who threatens to have the last word in this ultimately terrifying take on the brilliant family we have read so much about and all thought we knew so well. The Bronte Boy was performed at Bradford Playhouse, the Carriageworks in Leeds, the Square Chapel in Halifax and Wakefield Theatre Royal, where lead actor Warwick St John won the 2011 Wakefield Festival Best Actor award.
LIFE SENTENCE: Annie pursues her unfaithful husband with a meat cleaver, but there are even darker revelations in store. Performed at The Carriageworks theatre in Leeds, Henry Boons in Wakefield, The Library Theatre in Pontefract and AXM theatre club in Manchester. Winner of the Stanley Arnold Trophy at the Sheffield One-Act Play Festival, 2009.
THE NAVIGATOR’S DAUGHTER: Alice is searching for love – but it comes in a brutal package and spells misery for her young daughter Maudie. Fifty years of turbulent family life. Performed at Wakefield's Powerhouse One Theatre.
QWERTYUIOP: Women behaving badly – over men, politics and work. Follow the fun and heartbreak with a group of unemployed women retraining to be typists in Thatcher's Britain. Performed at Featherstone Community Theatre and Powerhouse One.
TILL MY EYES BLEED: Loyal Mel hires the theatre to host a wake for his best friend Adrian. But it soon becomes apparent – to everyone except Mel – that Mel’s wife had enjoyed a passionate affair with the dead man. Performed at The Carriageworks, Henry Boons and Ilkley Festival Fringe.
ALL GOOD MEN: A Labour party conference is shocked by the sudden death of a popular prime minister and a bitter leadership battle ensues. Sexy Lady Bridgewater plots to ensure the rise of her cabinet minister husband, using whatever means – or man – comes to hand. Performed at The Carriageworks and Saltaire’s Victoria Hall.
A REAL CUSHY NUMBER: The night shift porters in a major hospital nervously await a death on the wards. Performed at Featherstone Theatre.
THE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR: Pupils in Mrs Crotchet’s music class are bored. But a strange visitor on a magic train takes them on a fantastic voyage to discover the sounds they love. Children’s play performed at Overthorpe school in Dewsbury.
PONTEFRACTIONS: Satirical history of Pontefract, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the town. Performed at PontefractTown Hall.
DOUBLECROSS: Tale of sexual and emotional betrayal, co-written with Helen Shay, performed at The Carriageworks and Otley Courthouse.
BRICK WALL: Prize-winning film based on award-winning dramatic monologue.
For more information about Michael Yates – as poet, short story writer, journalist and educator – go to www.michael-yates.co.uk
THE BRONTE BOY Young Branwell Bronte, who once ruled an imaginary
world, is now a man, grown mad trying to cope with the real one. Having failed as a poet and painter, as doomed in love as he is in literature, he slips ever more quickly down the road of drink, drugs and despair. His loving father Patrick and talented sister Charlotte fight a last-ditch stand for his
salvation, but it is Branwell’s sinister friend, gravedigger John Brown, who threatens to have the last word in this ultimately terrifying take on the brilliant family we have read so much about and all thought we knew so well. The Bronte Boy was performed at Bradford Playhouse, the Carriageworks in Leeds, the Square Chapel in Halifax and Wakefield Theatre Royal, where lead actor Warwick St John won the 2011 Wakefield Festival Best Actor award.
LIFE SENTENCE: Annie pursues her unfaithful husband with a meat cleaver, but there are even darker revelations in store. Performed at The Carriageworks theatre in Leeds, Henry Boons in Wakefield, The Library Theatre in Pontefract and AXM theatre club in Manchester. Winner of the Stanley Arnold Trophy at the Sheffield One-Act Play Festival, 2009.
THE NAVIGATOR’S DAUGHTER: Alice is searching for love – but it comes in a brutal package and spells misery for her young daughter Maudie. Fifty years of turbulent family life. Performed at Wakefield's Powerhouse One Theatre.
QWERTYUIOP: Women behaving badly – over men, politics and work. Follow the fun and heartbreak with a group of unemployed women retraining to be typists in Thatcher's Britain. Performed at Featherstone Community Theatre and Powerhouse One.
TILL MY EYES BLEED: Loyal Mel hires the theatre to host a wake for his best friend Adrian. But it soon becomes apparent – to everyone except Mel – that Mel’s wife had enjoyed a passionate affair with the dead man. Performed at The Carriageworks, Henry Boons and Ilkley Festival Fringe.
ALL GOOD MEN: A Labour party conference is shocked by the sudden death of a popular prime minister and a bitter leadership battle ensues. Sexy Lady Bridgewater plots to ensure the rise of her cabinet minister husband, using whatever means – or man – comes to hand. Performed at The Carriageworks and Saltaire’s Victoria Hall.
A REAL CUSHY NUMBER: The night shift porters in a major hospital nervously await a death on the wards. Performed at Featherstone Theatre.
THE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR: Pupils in Mrs Crotchet’s music class are bored. But a strange visitor on a magic train takes them on a fantastic voyage to discover the sounds they love. Children’s play performed at Overthorpe school in Dewsbury.
PONTEFRACTIONS: Satirical history of Pontefract, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the town. Performed at PontefractTown Hall.
DOUBLECROSS: Tale of sexual and emotional betrayal, co-written with Helen Shay, performed at The Carriageworks and Otley Courthouse.
BRICK WALL: Prize-winning film based on award-winning dramatic monologue.
For more information about Michael Yates – as poet, short story writer, journalist and educator – go to www.michael-yates.co.uk
