Our Mate, Max

Max is a young man working at a research department at the local museum, feeling as if he was promised more from life. As reality slowly catches up with him, he deteriorates and life starts crashing by.

Black-and-white photo of a young boy standing at a table on stage, raising his arms. The stage backdrop displays text announcing a play titled 'Our Mate, Max' by OffPiste Theatre, supported by Arts Council England.

the production

The first draft of Our Mate, Max was written by Archie Rowell during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. OffPiste were lucky enough to receive Arts Council funding to R+D the play at Bridport Arts Centre later that year.

After showcasing the some of the play at the Return of the Natives Festival, we went on a small tour to the Makerspace Festival in Sheffield, Bath Rondo Theatre, trialled a digital theatre approach at Tobacco Factory Theatres with thanks to the Arts Council and back down to Dorset- the rest of the tour was sadly curtailed due to another spike in COVID across the country.

The show celebrated and condemned the term ‘masculinity’, recounting experiences encountered by working-class men through a physically-driven piece of theatre… we’re hoping to bring it back when the time is right.

CAST: Ben Redman, Isobel Morris, Archie Rowell
TECH: Elliot Millson
with thanks to: Arts Council England, Bridport Arts, Lyric Theatre Bridport, Phulmaya Bhusal, Only Lucky Dogs Theatre.

Five stars, quote about emotional response and laughing out loud, attributed to audience member.
A young man lying on the floor under a table, smiling and making a playful face, with chairs, papers, and water bottles scattered around in a room.
Three young adults standing on a wooden floor in a dark room, with chairs and tables behind them, illuminated by warm lighting. They appear to be performers or speakers preparing for an event.
Four performers on a stage performing a dance or theatrical routine, with varied costumes and energetic movements.
A woman with long blond hair holding a piece of paper, sitting in front of a row of chairs, with a no smoking sign on the wall behind her.
Two young men are playfully engaging in a mock fight, holding hands and pulling each other while smiling, against a black background.

OUR MATE, MAX. 2020-2021