Following a successful spring run, Northern Rascals are set to take their critically acclaimed production Sunny Side on an autumn tour across the UK.
The Yorkshire-based company will visit Barnsley, Salford, Bath, and Bradford, continuing their mission to spark vital conversations around mental health and male vulnerability.
Blending dance, theatre and spoken word, Sunny Side is a raw and emotional portrayal of the modern male experience. Touring in partnership with Andy’s Man Club, the show aims to raise awareness of the mental health crisis affecting young people.
Co-Artistic Director Anna Holmes said, “Sunny Side is a response to our personal, and the collective experiences of local young people who have grown up in the Calder Valley and in similar areas across the North. Over a period of 4 years, we’ve worked with over 1420 young people to question what home means and how our fostering environment impacts the path that we can take and the future that seems available to us. What became apparent across our research is that our young people are anxious, trapped and overwhelmed by an ever-changing world where our future seems difficult to place. Sunny Side is a response to that.”
She continued, “The show prompts conversation on vital topics, questioning why is there a mental health epidemic in young people? Why is suicide the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, particularly of young men? Why does that seem even more apparent in a small Yorkshire town that is celebrated for its liberal and progressive environment? How can we fix it? Sunny Side may not provide the answer, but it provokes conversation and provides a vital, urgent insight into the internal world of our young people.”
Set in Calder Valley, Sunny Side follows K, a young man navigating adolescence and identity in a world that feels increasingly unfamiliar. The production draws on real-life testimony from over 1,420 young people aged 14–30, collected over four years.
The cast includes Soul Roberts, Sophie Thomas, and Ed Mitchell. The creative team features Anna Holmes and Sam Ford (Co-Artistic Directors), Geoffrey Colman (Acting Coach/Dramaturg), Caitlin Mawhinney (Set Designer), Barnaby Booth (Lighting Designer), Aaron Howl (Digital Designer), Adam Goode (Production Manager), and Wilfred Kimber (Composer).
Sunny Side runs for 85 minutes and is recommended for ages 14+, with content exploring sensitive topics including mental health, loneliness, and societal pressures.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
