By Far The Greatest Team

Lowry Theatre, Salford

Thursday, September 17

FOOTBALL is a way of life for many – a sport that can provide the ultimate highs and the devastating lows.

It divides cities and also families – something a new play by Monkeywood Theatre illustrates perfectly in its depiction of Manchester’s footballing rivalry.

By Far The Greatest Team is made up of four short plays by Mancunian playwrights ¬– two about the blue half of the city and two from the Manchester United angle all encompassed in one 90-minute production set on the stage of an artificial football pitch.

The intimate Quays Theatre at The Lowry provides the perfect stage as a makeshift football stadium as four different tales of red and blue allegiance are played out.

With fine actors like Manchester-born Samantha Siddall, best known for her role as Mandy Maguire in Shameless, and Heartbeat’s Mark Jordon portraying their roles superbly, you sense you are living their footballing passion with them and feeling their hatred for the team from the other side of the city.

Ian Kershaw’s first play shocks from the outset with City fan Sam (David Judge) chanting antagonistic chants about the Munich air crash but the context plays out as older Blues supporter Helen (Meriel Schofield) educates the younger fan about what it really means to follow your team and not be filled with hatred for others in an evocative scene.

Lindsay William’s ‘Stretford End’ play has its comedic element as it tells the tale of separated Robbie and Sal who met at the match and still have to share the family season ticket.

The Good, The Bad and The Giggsy is also a tale of love broken down but in a marriage of red and blue and the knowledge of the rivalry by writer Andrew Sheridan is evident with the familiar jibes from each camp.

The production is wrapped up with Sarah McDonald Hughes’ story of an estranged daughter and father reunited by enjoying City’s finest moment – clinching the title on the final day.

It is not just Mancunians who will relate to this superb play –which brings theatre and football together – but fans of any team who appreciate just how much the beautiful game affects lives.

• By Far The Greatest Team is on at The Lowry until Sunday with matinee shows over the weekend. Tickets are priced £17 and available online at www.thelowry.com or telephone the box office on 0843 208 6000