The Political History of Smack & Crack + Q&A

Rehearsed reading, followed by a post-performance Q&A.

Written by Ed Edwards.

Join us for – A twisted love story between two lifelong addicts. 

BOOM! Neil feels a violent leap of ecstasy in his chest. The history of Manchester jumps off its axis. The history of England jumps off its axis. 2 am, 8th July 1981, 20 cities across England burn.” 

Neil and Mandy’s paths cross as kids on the night of the Manchester uprising, in 1981. Little do they know how this event will shape their future lives. 

They share some laughs, an occasional bed and finally their love as they seek to maintain a fragile recovery against the addiction that blights their lives and the drug epidemic that smashes the inner-city communities at the height of Thatcherism. 

Tracing their lives from the epicentre of the Moss Side riots in 1981 to their present-day survival on the streets of Manchester, Mandy and Neil chronicle the fallout for communities crushed by the heroin epidemic at the height of Thatcherism. 

Winner of Summerhall’s Lustrum Award 2018 and Theatre503’s 2017 Play Writing Award Finalist, The Political History of Smack and Crack is an angry, funny love song to a lost generation. Inspired by the playwright’s own experience in jail and rehab, it is shot through with home truths about the road to recovery.  

The Political History of Smack & Crack will be performed by Eve Steele and William Fox.

Eve Steele is a writer and actor, often performing in and sometimes co-directing her own work. She runs Most Wanted film and theatre company with regular collaborator Ed Edwards. Eve is currently working on her 9th BBC radio drama commission.

William Fox is an actor based in West Yorkshire and has many TV, theatre and Film credits such as, Peterloo, Coronation St, The Syndicate, Wolfblood, The A word, Jamie Johnson, That day we sang. William is represented by Regan Management 

★★★★ “It moves at a fast pace… A marriage of good writing and excellent delivery… Strongly recommended.” – North West End 

★★★★ “Well worth 70 minutes of your time.” – Quays Life 

★★★★★ “Exceptional… Riotously entertaining and deeply moving.” – The Stage 

★★★★★ “The simplicity and passion of the storytelling left me inspired; it relied on nothing more than a well-written script, a good heart and beautiful performances.” – The 730 Review 

★★★★ “Not since Trainspotting has addiction been so entertaining.” – Lyn Gardner, Independent 

★★★★ “As a love story it’s unexpectedly tender; as a social history its shockingly dark; as a piece of theatre, it’s excellent.” – The Scotsman 

★★★★ “It damningly shows how the personal can be fatally political.” – The Guardian 

Ed Edwards is a writer who has published five novels, a children’s book and has worked for various continuing TV dramas. His plays include England & Son (Edinburgh Fringe & Manchester HOME, 2023) and The Political History of Smack and Crack (Edinburgh Fringe & Soho Theatre, 2018). He has had several original plays broadcast on Radio 4 as well as short films on Channel 4 and BBC2. He is co-artistic director of Most Wanted Theatre, which he runs along with Eve Steele.