A play about the need for tolerance and the unhappy consequences of demonising the underclass ...Crabb’s exceptional use of the Northern vernacular ...her flawless and unflabby dialogue ...a short and perfectly formed piece of dramatic writing.

Helen Nugent, Manchester Salon
...the most perfect depiction of a right wing tabloid reading, acrimonious pub bore... to be avoided at the bar at all costs. Between them, Crabb and Bell have created an absolutely watchable monster of a man...

Iain Sykes, The Public Reviews
"...what a performance ...Bell mesmerised everyone present, his stream of consciousness made all the more acute by the subtle reactions of Dan Street-Brown."

Helen Nugent, Manchester Salon
Dan Street-Brown is the perfect foil to this character ...with great comic timing, seems to take a restrained pleasure in lighting the blue touch paper on Peter’s rants...

Iain Sykes, The Public Reviews
"The foil to Bell’s larger than life Satanic shop manager, Street-Brown played it just right – quiet, faintly amused and wary of his most unpleasant customer."

Helen Nugent, Manchester Salon
The Bubbler is a great play ...a short, sharp, intense, witty dose of powerful entertainment.

Iain Sykes, The Public Reviews

Video Trailer

Warning: Contains vulgar language and suspect opinions...

The Bubbler - Northern Pub Crawl Tour from Benedict Power on Vimeo.

The Bubbler

Nominated for Manchester Theatre's Best Fringe Production following performances at The Lowry's Re:Play festival last year, Award Winning Manchester writer, Cathy Crabb's, critically acclaimed new play has sold out Manchester fringe venues and pubs throughout 2012/13.

Now awarded Arts Council Funding, the show will tour the North West and beyond throughout Spring 2014. See the tour schedule below, to find out if this brilliant new play is coming to a pub near you.

Based on Satan's fall from grace in Paradise Lost, the play began life as part of Scroats From The Underground; a response to the vitriol aimed at young working-class men during the summer riots of 2011. In a world where art is seen as frivolous and greed is encouraged, happiness and unhappiness collide - and bar-staff bear the brunt.

the-bubbler The story is of embittered Cash Generator boss Peter, and his opinionated battle of wills with easy-going everyman bartender, Paul, fought out over the morals and motives of absent regular, Tony Rabonni - a kind and creative soul who, much to Peter's disgust, appears to be an all-round great guy.

With an eye wateringly powerful performance, that will leave you catching your breath, Neil Bell gives us the 'perfect depiction of a right-wing-tabloid reading, acrimonious pub bore', an ‘absolutely watchable monster of a man'.

Written by Cathy Crabb (Beautiful House - Library Theatre, The Enough Project - The Lowry) and featuring Neil Bell (Peaky Blinders, Dead Man's Shoes) and Daniel Street-Brown (The Light, Some Men) the piece is produced by Adrian Turrell-Watts (Floating - Lives of Others, Wolf Red - Tmesis) and directed by Benedict Power (Temp/Casual - Contact, Two - NW Tour).

The Rain it Raineth:

The rain it raineth on the just,

and also on the unjust fella,

but mainly on the just because

the unjust steals the just's umbrella.

Northern Pub Crawl 2014 - Tour Dates

Unless specified, all performances start at 8pm and last just under an hour. To reserve tickets please call the venue.

The Pilgrim, Liverpool - Friday 9th May - 0151 709 2302

Burnley College - Saturday 10th May (Matinee 1pm) - 01282 733 373

The Cinema Bar, St Helen's - Monday 12th May

Devonshire Arms, Skipton - Tuesday 13th May - 01756 730 237

The Adelphi, Preston - Wednesday 14th May - 01772 201 397

Jacksons Pit, Oldham - Thursday 15th May - 07861 051 496

The Picturedrome, Holmefirth - Saturday 17th May - Web Tickets

The Castle, Oldham Street, Manchester - Sunday 18th May - 0161 237 9485

The Silverdale Hotel, Carnforth - Wednesday 21st May - 01524 701 206

The Bramsche, Todmorden - Thursday 22nd May - 01706 817 633

The Swan and Royal, Clitheroe - Friday 23rd May - 01200 423 130

The Whitaker Museum, Rossendale - Saturday 24th May - 01706 218 858

The Admiral Lord Rodney, Colne - Monday 26th May May - 01282 862 217

The Ship Inn, Sewerby, Bridlington - Tuesday 27th May - 01262 672 374

The Duke of Cumberland, Cottingham - Thursday 29th May - 01482 847 199

The Black Swan, Brandesburton, Driffield - Friday 30th May - 01964 542 376

The Star Inn, Willerby, Hull - Saturday 31st May - 01482 658 037

The Swan Inn, Dobcross - Sunday 1st June - 01457 873 451

Find out more...

Please get in touch if you want to find out more about the production, the writer Cathy Crabb, or if you are interested in booking the piece for your pub/venue next year.