For the 20th time, JB Shorts – who got it’s name from it’s first home in the basement of the club Joshua Brooks – is returns to the stage this month. An evening of six 15 minute plays from established TV writers was first dreamt up over a pint by Trevor Suthers who has written for Coronation Street and Eastenders, and John Chambers. Almost a decade, 19 runs and 114 short plays  later, ‘JB’ is still going strong. In that time, guest writers have included Peter Bowker (The A Word, Marvellous, Eric and Ernie) and stand-up comedian Justin Moorhouse. For JB Shorts’ 20th incarnation, their original writing team is back in full force. This year everything is happening at 53-two, with nightly and matinee performances. The six 15 minute plays are an eclectic mix genre-wise; meet the Mancunian landlady of a young George Best in Lindsay William’s (who has writer credits from Corrie to Holby City) ‘Best Behaviour’, and come face-to face with an all–too familiar media mogul at the center of a #Metoo scandal in ‘Mandame Mantis’. While, ‘Corruption’ written by Peter Kerry, known for his work on Emmerdale and BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, and his son Louis Ashton-Butler, presents JB’s first mini-opera, a dark tale of murder, greed and chequebook journalists. While much has changed on the Manchester fringe scene, JB has become a familiar constant, and its 20th year celebrates the continuing success of this Manchester Fringe establishment.

Tue 20 Nov- Sat 1 Dec, 53-two, 8 Albion Street, Manchester. M1 5LN, times and prices vary, wegottickets.com/jbshorts

Tue 20 Nov - Sat 1 Dec
Words:
Izzy Trott
Published on:
Fri 23 Nov 2018