Following his production of David Mamet's American Buffalo at The Kings Arms in Salford last year, David Thacker will return to direct Brian Friel's Faith Healer. Colin Connor, who was also in the Mamet play, will return to play Frank, with Vicky Binns as Grace and Rupert Hill as Teddy,
Frank Hardy, his partner Grace and manager Teddy have spent years travelling in a small van to remote villages in Wales and Scotland, hoping to find an audience for Frank’s apparently miraculous healing. Their accounts often contradict as they share the troubled thoughts and unresolved mysteries of their lives. They retrace their journeys along the long and winding road that leads them back to Ireland and a fateful night in Ballybeg.
David Thacker said that his production of American Buffalo "was an extremely satisfying and creative experience for me, tackling a complex and emotionally powerful play with a small cast of talented and committed actors, We shared a wish to bring to life a great play, that may be unknown to many young or first-time theatregoers in our audience. The King’s Arms, the small friendly pub theatre on the border of Manchester and Salford, within walking distance of Manchester City Centre, was the perfect theatre for the play.
"Faith Healer is equally challenging, and I am delighted to have the chance to direct it here. And to be working again with Colin Connor and Vicky Binns and to work for the first time with Rupert Hill whose work I have admired but with whom I have never had the opportunity of working. Rehearsals are proving to be very enjoyable, and we all feel it is a great privilege and huge responsibility to bring this wonderful play to life for our audience—but one that we relish."
Faith Healer will be at The Kings Arms in Salford 15–19 January, with an investigate day on the Saturday morning (18 January).