This October, renowned independent theatre company Andy Jordan Productions brings the critically acclaimed drama Born in the USA to The Edge, exploring one man’s psychological battle with trauma, identity and the allure of populism in a gripping, resonant and deeply poignant solo show.
Set in Michigan within the tinderbox political theatre of Autumn 2024, the play follows Jimmy Vandenburg, a retired Ford factory worker and decorated Vietnam veteran who spends his days alone in his garage, tending to the classic cars of his youth. Disillusioned and adrift in America’s Rust Belt, the anti-hero of Bruce Springsteen’s titular anthem finds solace – and danger – in the rhetoric of unapologetic patriotism and gilded national revival. But when a chance encounter forces him to confront his past, his convictions and sense of self begin to unravel, leading to a pivotal reckoning.
Written with warmth, wit and humanity, Born in the USA has been praised for its emotional intensity and sharp, timely political insight, winning four and five-star reviews in Edinburgh and London. Balancing humour with heartbreak, the play courageously challenges preconceptions about populism and examines how economic despair and personal loss can seduce the disaffected, while ultimately offering a redemptive story of hope and healing.
Book tickets below.
Thu 23 Oct - Fri 24 Oct, 7.30pm, The Edge Theatre, Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9JG, £18/£16
www.edgetheatre.co.uk
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Mon 20 Oct 2025
