Past Projects
YOUNG LOVE
53Two
17th - 19th August 2023
Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.
Past Projects
25 Days of Oldham
Social Media Platforms
1st - 25th December
In December 2024, Dare to Know Theatre delivered 25 micro plays and poems as part of our 25 Days of Oldham project. These innovative, high-quality productions, created by our Community Project, reached over 100,000 viewers on social media, significantly amplifying community engagement and showcasing the transformative power of the arts. By utilising digital platforms, we successfully connected with a broad and diverse audience, providing accessible cultural content during a time of celebration. This success underscores our ability to deliver impactful projects that align with our goals of promoting arts accessibility, audience development, and community cohesion.
Broken Boys
53Two
21st - 24th August
During a one hour free period at school a group of lads are given free run of a classroom as a new initiative from the school with the intention of giving the lads 'space to talk'. Affectionately named 'The Sad Sack Group' and boys being boys, the do everything but talk.
​
Written by Jake Talbot
Directed by Miranda Parker
A Dare to Know Theatre Production
What You Sayin'
Shaw Playhouse 2
22nd - 23rd July
Dare to Know Theatre return with another community play for 2024, working closely with the people of Oldham to create a brand new piece of theatre. The project offers the opportunity for people in the Oldham community to step foot on stage for the very first time and for local actors to showcase their talent, in a creative and exciting performance of ‘What you sayin’?’ that the theatre company find a joy to produce.
‘What you sayin’?’ combines verbatim theatre with tales of family struggles that highlight the impact of social media and language we use online to communities. With relatable characters and intense relationships, the play uses words taken directly from local groups on social media to explore hard-hitting topics creatively.
​
Written by Jake Talbot
Directed by Miranda Parker
Performed by The Oldham Community
Dare To Know Theatre Invites 2024
Oldham Coliseum - Roundabout Theatre
29th - 30th May 2024
Returning for 2024, Dare To Know Theatre Invites showcased the talent of Dare to Know Theatre’s favourite creatives to produce an Invites Night for Oldham audiences. We were proud to offer artists, theatre companies, theatre makers and playwrights the opportunity to showcase their new work on an Oldham stage, creating high quality work to bring the community together.
​
This year, Dare to Know Invites showcased brand new work from:
Kimberley Hart-Simpson
Cathy Crabb & Hazel Green | Sonya Nisa
Joe Walsh | Nell Greenhalgh | Oceana Cage
In Parallel
Young Love
53Two
17th - 19th August 2023
People say that young people can't experience love. But in reality, young people love harder, and more passionately than most. Young Love follows 15 young people as they navigate their world trying to comprehend their emotions, whether that be their first love, their sexuality, their relationships with their family or their gender. Young Love challenges how we see our young people.
DROWNING
2023 Tour
2023 saw the return of Dare to Know Theatre's debut play 'Drowning', with the theatre company embarking on their biggest tour to date. Taking the show to new places and theatres. Including Liverpool, with Liverpool Royal Court, Manchester at 53Two and London at Bridge House Theatre.
​
Written and Performed by Jake Talbot
Directed by Miranda Parker
LEAP OF FAITH
Oldham Coliseum Theatre
4th October 2022
Following the success and pure joy of creating our Dare to Know Theatre's previous community play 'One for Sorrow, Two for Joy', the theatre company and Oldham Community Members returned in 2023 with their latest community play 'Leap of Faith'.
​
'Leap of Faith' follows Dan, a young lad from Oldham stuck between wanting more from himself and staying in Oldham with his family and friends. The play explores small town mentality and why people stay in their small home town.
​
Written by Jake Talbot
Directed by Miranda Parker
Performed by Members of The Oldham Community
THE FORGOTTEN
In 2022 Dare to Know Theatre returned to the fringe circuit with their latest play 'The Forgotten', a heartbreaking tale of an elderly dementia patient who upon being moved into a care facility, George seemingly relives trauma from his past.
​
'The Forgotten' was Dare to Know Theatre's most ambitious project to date, the consisted of George, live on stage, played by the wonderful Jeff Longmore, then a series of 20 voiceover characters ranging from his present life, to his past. A technical challenge and quality performance that led to critical acclaim.
​
Written by Jake Talbot
Directed by Miranda Parker
Performed by Jeff Longmore
DARE TO KNOW THEATRE INVITES 2023
Oldham Coliseum Theatre
(Cultivate Festival)
21st July 2022
Following the success of Dare to Know Theatre Invites 2021, Dare to Know Theatre were proud to bring their Invites Night back with their strongest lineup to date. The aim of Dare to Know Theatre Invites has always been to showcase brand new work from some of the theatre companies favourite artists, bringing high quality new work to Oldham's stages, in front of Oldham audiences.
​
This year, Dare to Know Invites showcased brand new work from:
Kenneth Alan Taylor
Blue Balloon Theatre | Libby Hall
Nick Maynard | In Parallel | Grace Mair & Paris Rogers
Urussa Malik
OLDHAM ROCKS THE FOOD BANK
6th November 2021
In 2021, Dare to Know Theatre were asked to develop material which highlighted the ongoing food poverty crisis in Oldham. The day long charity event was supported by local musicians and businesses with the aim of raising funds and awareness for The Oldham Foodbank.
​
Dare to Know Theatre developed three spoken word pieces written by Jake Talbot.
'Our Town' performed by Jake Talbot
'Red Light' performed by Jordan Reece
'We're Hungry' performed by Mark Newsome
​
Check out our Youtube channel to watch the pieces.
One for Sorrow, Two for Joy
Grange Theatre
22nd July - 23rd July 2021
In 2021, Dare to Know Theatre presented their first ever community play, 'One for Sorrow, Two for Joy' a story of connection, community and belonging.
​
Talia, fresh from care is dropped into a new town with basically nothing but the clothes on her back. With a longing to belong, Talia can't quite seem to let go of her past.
​
'One for Sorrow, Two for Joy' was exactly the kind of project Dare to Know Theatre set out to create when Jake and Miranda first founded the theatre company. Working with the local community to create brand new theatre, for the people of Oldham. The play consisted of a cast of 30, ranging from local up and coming actors to members of the community that had never stepped foot on stage before.
​
Written by Jake Talbot
Directed by Miranda Parker
Performed by The Oldham Community
DARE TO KNOW THEATRE INVITES 2021
Grange Theatre
20th July 2021
After 16 months of uncertainty, Dare to Know Theatre wanted to give some of our favourite artists, theatre companies, theatre makers and playwrights the opportunity to showcase and test out new work in front of a live audience.
​
Dare to Know Theatre love Invites Night because it allows us the opportunity to unearth talent in our local community, as well as bringing established new writing talent, theatre companies and actors to perform on Oldham stages.
​
Following the success of Dare to Know Theatre Invites 2021, we endeavour to make the Invites Night a yearly event.
​
This year we showcased brand new work from:
Nana-Kofi Kufour | Zoe Iqbal
Joe Walsh | Liberty Rep | The Film Shed
&
Dare to Know Theatre Mentees
Noah Tomlin | Caitlin Cribbin
A Broken Family, Together
During the height of the pandemic, Dare to Know Theatre created 'A Broken Family, Together. A digital verbatim play commissioned as part of Oldham Coliseum Theatre's Micro Commissions. The play is a culmination of the words spoken to us by health care professionals working on the ICU wards at Royal Oldham Hospital. The play is a documentation, acknowledgement and celebration of the dedication and heroism that the nurses, doctors, porters, managers, volunteers and many many more people have shown during the pandemic.
​
It is hoped that the piece will echo the feelings inside hospitals around the country, exemplifying the need for support and understand for the pressures that healthcare professionals in Britain are facing.
​
We can't thank the healthcare professionals at Royal Oldham Hospital enough for their time, generosity, openness, courage, love and support during this project.
​
You can watch 'A Broken Family, Together' here:
​
​
Written by Jake Talbot
Directed by Miranda Parker
Director of Photography - Graham Hebron
Original Music by chloe.gf
​
Cast:
Sue - Julie Edwards
Debbie - Sam Power
Emily - Kimberly Hart-Simpson
DROWNING
in 2020 - 2021, Dare to Know Theatre embarked on a sporadic tour of their debut play. Plagued with cancellations, delays and rescheduling, Drowning was the first play in Manchester to open during the temporary lifting of restrictions in the covid pandemic.
​
An intelligent, yet naive sixteen-year-old (Josh), with extreme views on mental health, claims that suicide is selfish. However, as his world crumbles around him, he begins to spiral out of control.
​
"A thought-provoking and involving play"
- British Theatre Guide
​
"A powerful piece of theatre"
- Reviewer Number Nine
​
Written and Performed by Jake Talbot
Directed by Miranda Parker