A Salford playwright is set to stage her first show at one of the city’s historic pubs, offering an “unashamed” look at a different side of the region’s early 1990s nightlife.
Tara Lofthouse’s new production ‘Licking Your Feet, Feeding You Grapes’ aims to challenge the “dominant” 1991 ‘Madchester’ narrative of bucket hats and The Hacienda by telling a story of the different side of the area’s late-night scene.
Produced by Best Boy Ever Productions, the 40-minute play explores the era of the iconic late-night TV show The Hitman and Her and Manchester’s Discotheque Royale.
The show will make its debut at The Kings Arms pub on Chapel Street with two performances on Friday 24 July and Saturday 25 July at 7pm as part of this year’s Greater Manchester Fringe festival.
Tara said: “I was working on the show 1990-1992. I started as a 17-year-old, and I’ve written this play around some of my memories. You have Manchester going on and the Hacienda, but this is a different side of Manchester.”
It is a writing debut for Tara, who joined The Hitman And Her just as Manchester hit peak ‘Madchester’ fever. More than 50 episodes later and over 30 years on, her script serves as a nostalgic nod to her favourite city as it enters a new phase and waves goodbye to some of its long-held fables.
In the play, fake news spreads of the passing of an icon. In the confusion, Hitman And Her videos flood YouTube and teenager Mich (Eilidh Pollard) discovers a new obsession.
“The Hitman and Her was on at two o’clock on Sunday mornings when there were only about four channels,” Tara recalled.
“People would watch, regardless of who they were. It could be taxi drivers, ambulance drivers, police officers, parents feeding their babies, there were even rumours of royalty watching it.”
Presented by Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan, Take That appeared on the show in their early days, and the Hitman and Her dancers feature in a montage on Robbie Williams’ film Better Man.
Former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs and Lee Sharpe were also seen partying in Discotheque Royale.
“This inspired me to write the play because if anyone knows about the Hitman and Her, it’s me. It’s my passion. I used to watch it before I was on it,” the playwright explained.
“It’s 40 minutes of fun. If you were a fan of the show, you’ll love it. If not, go on YouTube and see what it’s all about.”
The production also marks the professional debut for director Ruth Allison. Originally from Scarborough and now based in Salford, Allison currently serves as the Youth Theatre leader at The Octagon Theatre Bolton, where she is co-directing The Trials.
Ruth said: “When I told my mum about ‘Licking Your Feet, Feeding You Grapes,’ she was so excited. The Hitman And Her was one of her favourite TV shows and she can’t believe that I’m directing something that has such a close connection… I hope the show can live up to my mum’s fond memories.”
More information about Licking Your Feet, Feeding You Grapes at Salford’s The Kings Arms pub can be found here.
