Presented by Lakin McCarthy in association with Traverse Theatre, The Lowry + Word of Warning

####In Brief
A comedy of betrayal. The true story of how Britain’s biggest arms manufacturer came to spy on a comedian.

####Venue + Booking Details
Date: Wednesday 25 February 2015, 8pm
Venue: The Lowry (Quays Theatre), Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ
Tickets: £19 (including booking fee) — only restricted view available.
Box Office Tel: 0843 208 6000

####Access Information
UPDATED: With an interval, the evening will last approximately 1¾ hours — Cuckooed lasts just over 1 hour, and will be preceded by a 20 minute stand-up set and an interval. Age advisory: 14+ (parental guidance)

####More
A tale of hubris, planes, demos and undercover deceit told by an award-winning performer. Ten years ago an activist and close friend of Mark’s was exposed as a spy for BAE Systems, infiltrating the movement. Now Mark wants to find him and has some questions to ask. This is a true story.

Cuckooed picks up from where the award-winning Bravo Figaro left off in style, using interviews from friends, colleagues, activists and journalists to examine the impact of betrayal. It is a personal and timely tale that tries to unearth what it means to be spied upon by a corporation under the sanction of the state.

Winner of a Scotsman Fringe First (2014) and Amnesty International Freedom of Expression awards, expect plenty of laughs, some weird characters, documentary styles, probably a tear or two, and the vague possibility that Mark might get beaten up in the process of making it as he tries to find out if he wants revenge — or if he can forgive a friend.

####Who is he?
Mark Thomas is a writer, activist and comedian known for his incisive wit and political awareness. Since his first stand-up gig in a pub in Putney in 1985, his consistently varied output has included: six series of The Mark Thomas Comedy Product on Channel 4; various Radio 4 broadcasts, including 2007’s Sony Award-winning My Life in Serious Organised Crime; regular contributions to The New Statesman; formerly holding a Guinness World Record for “Most Number of Political Demonstrations in 24 Hours”; and 2013/14’s 100 Acts of Minor Dissent, which included taking the police to court over surveillance and finding a new definition for the word “farage”.

Now one of comedy’s elder statesmen, in 2011/12 Mark created his first theatre show, Bravo Figaro — a touching and poignant tale about his opera-loving father and their relationship (and how Mark came to book Royal Opera House singers in his parent’s bungalow); it won his first Scotsman Fringe First award and was broadcast on Radio 4 in 2013.

####What people have said about Cuckooed

5* …a brand of comedy that carries a far weightier purpose than to simply generate laughs… leaves a lasting impression.
Sunday Herald
5* …blisteringly funny, searingly powerful, totally thought-provoking and pure brilliance.
The Public Reviews
4* …a clever, funny and angry show.
Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
4* It’s involving, inspiring, furious and funny.
The Times

Cuckooed was reviewed at The Lowry by The Public Reviews.

####Credits
Written + performed by Mark Thomas | Directed by Emma Callander | Image by Steve Ullathorne

####Websites
www.markthomasinfo.co.uk | @markthomasinfo