FOLLOWING the success of Up Down Boy and 2012 and Up Down Man four years later,Up Down BIG Man re-opens Salisbury Playhouse’s Salberg Studio from Wednesday 7th to Saturday 17th October, before moving to Bristol Old Vic’s Weston Studio from Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th October.

A Myrtle Theatre Company and Wiltshire Creative production in association with The Wardrobe Ensemble, the show has been supported by Bristol Old Vic.

There comes an age in every young man’s life when he has to leave home. For Matty, it’s 40! He really is a big man. But with his mother gone and his dad moving on, what’s next for Matty? He needs support, but what is the best form of care for him? How can he be both independent and safe?

And as he leaves the sanctuary of his house for the final time, is there space in the boxes for his most treasured possession?

The standalone production is the third in a trilogy of plays inspired by the life story of the gifted and charismatic performer Nathan Bessell. In Up Down BIG Man, Nathan returns to play Matty in a play full of wit, anarchy and heart.

The cast and creative team rehearsed in Bristol and Salisbury. All three productions emerged from a remarkable 20-year collaboration between Nathan, who has learning disabilities, and Heather Williams, artistic director of Myrtle Theatre Company.

Supported by writer Catherine Johnson of Mamma Mia! fame, Up Down Boy was written by Nathan’s mother and first-time writer Sue Shields. It was all about their extraordinary life together. Nathan played his on-stage alter ego, Matty, and Heather Williams played the mother This groundbreaking production went on to tour nationally (including to the National Theatre) and internationally. Up Down Man (2016), written by Brendan Murray, was equally successful and explored what happens to Matty when he loses a parent.

In Up Down BIG Man, Nathan returns to play his on-stage alter ego Matty in a play full of wit, anarchy and heart.

There comes a time in every young man’s life when he has to leave home. For Matty, it’s forty! He really is a big man. But with his mother gone, and his dad moving on, what’s next for Matty? He needs support, but what is the best form of care for him? How can he be independent and safe?
And as he leaves the sanctuary of his house for the final time, is there space in the boxes for his most treasured possession?

The trilogy gives a unique insight into the social history of a person with Down syndrome and the artistic development of an actor with a learning disability. Up Down BIG Man can be watched as a standalone production, but audiences who have seen the other two plays will be fascinated to see what happens next in this unusual but strangely familiar story.

Heather Williams says: “Nathan brings an incredible truth and joy to his performance. Add members of the award-winning Wardrobe Ensemble and the creative team into the mix and the result is quite magical and thrilling!”

Helena Seneca directs Nathan Bessell as Matty, performing with an ensemble cast of Tom Brennan, Tom England, Reiko Kijima and Heather Williams. Up Down BIG Man, devised and written by Nathan Bessell, Tom Brennan, Tom England, Heather Williams and Helena Seneca, is presented in loving memory of Sue Shields.

Rehearsal photographs by Craig Fuller