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HOME presents

Circle Mirror Transformation + Post-show Q&A

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In a small town in Vermont, New England, five unlikely strangers come together in their community centre for a creative drama class for adults. The free-spirited Marty, recently divorced Schulz, former actress Teresa, the self-conscious high school student Lauren, and Marty’s quiet husband, James. Over six weeks of drama exercises and games ranging from the hilarious to the heartbreaking, their lives become entangled and transformed in the most humorous and moving ways.

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Award winning director Bijan Sheibani brings the Northern Premiere of Annie Baker’s fantastic show to HOME’s stage, starring Amelia Bullmore (Scott & Bailey, Twenty Twelve, The Crucible) as Marty, Sian Clifford (Fleabag, Gloria) as Theresa, Anthony Ofoegbu (Spooks, Moonfleet, Casualty) as James, Con O’Neill (Frank, Cucumber, Ordinary Lives, Harlots, A View From the Bridge, Happy Valley) as Schultz, and Yasmin Paige (Submarine, Pramface, Ah Wilderness) as Lauren.

Annie Baker is the winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for drama and is considered one of the most talented playwrights to have emerged in recent years. Her quiet masterpiece Circle Mirror Transformation won the 2010 Obie Award for Best New Play, and was voted one of the top 10 plays of 2009 by the New York Times, Time Out, and The New Yorker.

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★★★★ “This revival of [Circle Mirror Transformation] is performed with richly layered compassion… The director Bijan Sheibani tenderly holds [Annie] Baker’s hesitance and hush.” – The Guardian

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★★★★ “Bijan Sheibani’s clever, sensitive direction… It’s taken Britain a fair amount of time to discover Annie Baker, but now that we’ve found her, we must never let her go. She is the real thing, a playwright to cherish… It is a lovely play and a deeply rewarding evening.” – What’s On Stage

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★★★★ “Bijan Sheibani’s production adds a layer of shimmering theatricality… The play’s close-up focus on character makes it a daunting showcase for performers. Sheibani’s cast brilliantly meet the challenge.” – The Stage

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★★★★ “This is a beautifully crafted play that appears to have slipped effortlessly from the pen of the great US playwright Annie Baker… This understated and loving play reminds us, in a world where sniping and ridicule is rife, that most people are in fact decent and kind.” – Morning Star

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★★★★½ “It’s hard not to be drawn in by these vulnerable, flawed people… Appealingly subtle. [Bijan] Sheibani’s deft direction of this talented cast ensures that it’s always compelling.” – The Reviews Hub

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★★★★ “Sheibani’s sensitive direction presents audiences with a simple yet thought-provoking production… Circle Mirror Transformation washes over you, making you smile, laugh and feel a sense of connected emotion which leaves you feeling hugely satisfied.” – Opening Night

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★★★★ “The whole cast put in understated, beautiful performances which suit Annie Baker’s writing perfectly… [A] wonderful, sensitive production.” – Upstaged Manchester

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