Handles – a social media play – at University of Salford

The connection or disconnect between online and offline identity is a hotly debated topic – little surprise when you consider how directly it relates to most people’s lives. This reprise of Handles, following its sell-out performance at The Lowry in January, sees areas of privacy, intimacy and trust between online and real world selves in a uniquely interactive way. The play’s title comes from the app that has taken playwright Tom Mason’s world by storm, with over 650 million users and 750,000 updates a minute. This massive interconnectedness creates unintended consequences as the users strive for the perfect online identity and self-image. To even further push this level of connection, the audience is encouraged to leave their Twitter handle when they buy tickets, and are then pushed to tweet thoughts throughout the play. The first performance will be part of The Creative Entrepreneur – Next Generation event with return performances planned for January.

Wed 3 Dec, MediaCityUK, University of Salford, Orange Tower, Salford, M50 2EQ, 3.30pm and Fri 22 & Sat 23 Jan 2015, Robert Powell Theatre, University of Salford, Allerton Building, Frederick Road, Salford, M6 6PU, 7.30pm, FREE but booking required via bit.ly/HandlesMcr