A Bolton-born theatre director is bringing an award-winning play back to this home town this weekend. Toxic, which deals with the subject of men’s mental health, made its debut at the Greater Manchester Fringe in one of the periods during lockdown when restrictions were lifted. Written by Dan Lovatt, it picked up two awards, and now audiences at the Octagon will get two chances to see a play which Connor Goodwin believes is more relevant than ever.
Director Connor Goodwin “We’ll probably never have the opportunity to work on a play like this again,” he said. “It has undergone so many rewrites since we first did it; it has allowed us to freshen it up and to make it the best version of the play it can be.” Toxic is the story of best mates Andy and James, both of whom are struggling with depression for various reasons.
It’s a story about friendship and also very much a celebration of northern humour. “It opens with two best friends who are struggling and having hard time trying to help each other,” said Connor. “It’s something you see so often in society.
Everyone has got their own issues and have things going on and we don’t really talk about it especially in northern communities. “So many of my friends and me to extent as kid didn’t cry and didn’t didn’t see a male figure in your life cry. If you did it was seen as sign of weakness.
“I think we are coming through that now. Some aspects of society, not all, are changing and we’re more familia.