North West Theatre

The Demolition Man

Aelish Michael
07 Apr 11 to 07 May 11
Octagon Theatre

Based on the life of Fred Dibnah.

After appearing on television repairing Bolton town hall clock in 1978, Fred went from eccentric, engineer and steeplejack to local hero, celebrated broadcaster and national institution. But when he is diagnosed with cancer, it threatens to demolish his personal and professional life as easily as he had toppled chimneys throughout his illustrious career.

Collins and Higginson cast in Octagon's Demolition Man

Former Eastenders star Michelle Collins is set to star in the Bolton Octagon's Demolition Man - a new play which looks at the life of local legend Fred Dibnah, this funny and tender new play has been researched in collaboration with Fred's wife Sheila and some of his closest friends.
What's On Stage

Dibnah Role Recast in Octagon Play

The role of Fred Dibnah in the Octagon Theatre Bolton’s forthcoming production of The Demolition Man will now be played by Colin Connor. The original actor John Branwell, has unfortunately had to pull out prior to the start of rehearsals for health reasons.
What's On Stage

Dibnah casting change at Octagon

The première of Aelish Michael's new play about unlikely TV star and steeplejack Fred Dibnah, The Demolition Man, has had a casting change for the lead role, with Colin Connor replacing John Branwell who has had to withdraw for health reasons.
British Theatre Guide

...writer Aelish Michael... crams so much into the script that it becomes more a summary than a dramatisation... the dialogue goes from expositional to soap opera without ever being memorable. The sexual politics are crudely realised... Physically and vocally [Colin Connor] is perfect... an excellent portrayal... ably matched by the brilliant Michelle Collins... Director David Thacker seems over-whelmed by the quantity of the material and just presents it, rather than achieving an interesting production. James Cotterill’s imaginative design...
What's On Stage (Rating: 3/5)
...Stage Designer James Cotterill has paid attention to detail crafting a believable environment... Projection Designer Joe Stathers-Tracey along with Sound Designer Andy Smith temper the scenes well with interludes... Although a supporting cast and lead performance by Colin Connor was enjoyable... the pace... was slow and... Dibnah’s fascinating approach to life was not explored as deeply as it could have been.
The Public Reviews (Rating: 3/5)
The play falls between two stools: on the one hand playing fast and loose with the facts... whilst on the other not being inventive enough to shape the events into an interesting narrative... an extremely impressive reincarnation of Dibnah from Colin Connor... Michelle Collins gets across the frustration of Sheila in looking after this difficult man, Mike Burnside gives a beautifully subtle performance... John McArdle has a good stab at making a believable character out of the pantomime villain Malc... not a play that is ready to be put before the public in a major regional theatre...
British Theatre Guide
There is a self-justificatory element here, with Sheila countering accusations of gold-digging... But all this acts as a distraction to the more absorbing business of uncovering the enigma of Fred... Colin Connor captures Dibnah's inimitable Lancastrian honk and irrepressible egotism; Michelle Collins plays Sheila with a face that hardens into a mask of exasperation. David Thacker directs with a customary eye for detail, though the script could afford to lose several repetitive scenes...
The Guardian (Rating: 3/5)
...wonderfully inventive play... A play of two halves, the first is achingly funny, the second desperately sad. Colin Connor... is simply terrific... Fred’s third wife is beautifully captured by Michelle Collins... Full marks, too, for James Cotterill’s set... and the way director David Thacker deploys three giant screens to capture in grainy black and white the external action in this superb world premiere.
The Stage
...Colin Connor fully assumes the character of Dibnah, perfectly imitating the accent and mannerisms of one of television's original reality stars... Sheila, played with considerable allure by former EastEnders star Michelle Collins... the first half of the play is funny and charming without lapsing into sentimentality.
The Independent (Rating: 3/5)