Preview: Yen at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

🔥 Explosive Bruntwood-Winning Play Yen Brings Grit, Heart, and Raw Humanity to Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre

Yen

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Wednesday 17 - Saturday 20 September 2025

This September, Newcastle audiences will experience one of the most searing and important dramas of the past decade as Anna Jordan’s Bruntwood Prize-winning play Yen makes its much-anticipated return to the North East for a strictly limited run at Alphabetti Theatre.

Ten years after its original Royal Exchange premiere, this new revival of Yen—directed by Connor Goodwin of Divided Culture Co.—delivers a blistering look into the chaotic lives of two teenage brothers left to navigate adulthood on their own terms. It’s a production that pulses with urgency, tenderness, and an unflinching gaze at what it means to grow up in the margins.

Lucy Eve Mann as Jennifer

💔 Two Boys, One Dog, No Parents

Sixteen-year-old Hench and his younger brother Bobbie live alone in a barely-held-together flat with only their dog, Taliban, for company. Their days are filled with PlayStation, porn, and silence. Their mother, Maggie—unreliable and unraveling—drifts in and out, sometimes literally passing out on the lawn. Then Jennifer knocks on the door, and everything shifts.

Jordan’s writing captures the emotional turbulence of adolescence and the brutal consequences of neglect. But it also offers glimpses of compassion and hope—delivered with razor-sharp dialogue and moments of aching vulnerability.

🎭 A Stellar Cast, A Gritty Vision

This new production is led by Adam Owers (Biedermann und die Brandstifter, Roundhouse) as Hench and Jonny Grogan (The Head, HBO) as Bobbie, with Lucy Eve Mann (A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou, Netflix) portraying the enigmatic Jennifer. The cast is rounded out by Vicky Binns, known for her iconic role in Coronation Street, who plays the deeply flawed but compelling Maggie.

At the helm is Connor Goodwin, whose directorial voice has garnered acclaim for shows like Toxic and Dry House. His work with Divided Culture Co.—a company dedicated to championing Northern voices—is known for fearless storytelling that reflects the world as it is. He’s joined by acclaimed set and costume designer Davy String, whose credits include Dear England at the National Theatre and Hairspray for Adam Spiegel Productions.

Adam Owers as Hench

🧨 Raw, Relevant, and Resonant

What makes Yen stand out—beyond its pedigree and awards—is its deep emotional truth. It doesn’t flinch from the rough edges of childhood or the discomfort of witnessing pain in young people. And yet, it’s precisely that honesty that makes the play so affecting.

After successful runs at MCC Theatre in New York and the Royal Court in London, this remounting brings Yen back to the North with new urgency. Its Newcastle leg at Alphabetti is particularly special: an intimate venue known for boundary-pushing, socially engaged theatre, making it the perfect home for a play like Yen.

📅 Newcastle Dates at Alphabetti Theatre

🗓 Wednesday 17 September – Saturday 20 September 2025
🕖 Evening performances at 7:00pm
🕑 Saturday matinee at 2:00pm
🎟 Tickets: £15–£18 (exc. concessions and booking fees)
📍 Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
🔗 Book now: Tickets via TicketSource

Age Guidance: 16+
Running Time: 100 minutes (excluding interval)

🗣 Final Word

Yen isn’t comfortable. It’s not supposed to be. But it’s essential. In a time when stories of disconnection and resilience are more vital than ever, this play speaks to our times—and our region—with power, poetry, and purpose.

Whether you’re a seasoned theatregoer or someone seeking stories that reflect the gritty truth of life behind the headlines, Yen at Alphabetti is a must-see this September.