Vincent River at Hope Mill
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Manchester-based LGBTQ+ theatre company Green Carnation return to Hope Mill’s intimate space with a new production of Philip Ridley’s highly-charged psychological thriller, Vincent River.
One of the most powerful explorations of homophobic hate crime.
Set in London’s East End at the turn of the millennium, Ridley’s play is widely seen as one of the most powerful explorations of homophobic hate crime. First performed in the Hampstead Theatre, London in 2001, the one-act play’s message feels even more relevant today, in light of the number of homophobic hate crime reports doubling in the last five years. Most alarmingly, recent data received from police forces across the UK has revealed that there were 26,824 reports of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime in 2021-22 – a 32% increase on the previous year.
Tense, heartbreaking and punctuated with dark humour.
Tense, heartbreaking and punctuated with dark humour, Vincent River examines loss, prejudice, sexuality and hate crime through a tense game of cat and mouse. The play centres around two strangers who meet for the first time, their paths crossing with devastating consequences. Grieving and isolated, Anita is moving into a new flat in Dagenham when she meets Davey, a young man who has seen something he can never forget…
With a mission to tell queer stories through quality theatre, we’re thrilled that Green Carnation return to Hope Mill this October. Founded in 2018, the company is named after the green carnation that Oscar Wilde wore as a secret symbol of his homosexuality to those who shared his sexuality. Vincent River is the company’s first new production since the pandemic.
Joseph Houston, Director and co-founder of Hope Mill Theatre told us, “We are thrilled to have Green Carnation back with us. In 2018 they had their debut production of The Pride which sold out and received great reviews from audiences and critics. We worked with them again on TurnOnFest, our annual LGBTQ+ festival, with a selection of monologues shining a light on diverse queer stories. They are an incredibly exciting, grassroots LGBTQ+ company who are making great strides in Manchester and beyond and we are thrilled to welcome them back this year with Vincent River.”
