THE MEAT UP is a funny family drama about food, gentrification and sibling rivalry, a 21st Century problem play which explores the changing urban landscapes and the impact it has on communities.
(Photo credit Graeme Braidwood)
It’s the opening night of The Meat Up a new vegan burger bar launching in the trendiest part of the city, but Nicole the owner has found herself and the business in the middle of an anti-gentrification protest. The protestors believe The Meat Up is a symbol of everything that is wrong in the city, and to make matter worse her estranged brother Marco has turned up. Marco claims he wants to talk about family holidays but soon Nicole realises he has ulterior motives for his visit. Not only is he part of the protest he’s planning something which will change the city and their relationship forever. THE MEAT UP is a sharp and witty family drama which asks how urban spaces are changing, how it affects communities and whether individual have any power to change things.
I scratched a 20 minute extract of THE MEAT UP at PILOT nights in January 2019 at Midlands Art Centre. Directed by myself and performed by Phoebe Cresswell and Nathan Queeley-Dennis. You can watch the extract here, filmed by Rachel Bunce.
A full length version of this project is currently in development.
Matthew Gabrielli 