Toxic, which tackles the topic of men’s mental health, premiered at the Greater Manchester Fringe during a period when restrictions were lifted due to lockdown.
Penned by Dan Lovatt, the play received two awards and will now have two showings at the Octagon, a play that Connor Goodwin considers more pertinent than ever.
Directed by Connor Goodwin
“We may never have the chance to work on a play like this again,” he remarked. “It has gone through numerous revisions since its initial production, allowing us to refresh it and present the best version of the play.”
Toxic follows the story of best friends Andy and James, both grappling with depression for different reasons. It is a tale of friendship and a celebration of northern humor.
“It kicks off with two best friends facing struggles and trying to support each other,” Connor explained. “This is a common scenario in society. Everyone has their own challenges and issues, but we often don’t openly discuss them, especially in northern communities.”
“Many of my friends and I, growing up, were discouraged from showing emotions or seen as weak if we did.”
“I believe we are progressing now. Some sectors of society, not all, are changing and becoming more accepting of the idea that it’s okay to not be okay. Charities are working hard to promote the importance of speaking up about problems, but there is still much work to be done.”
Despite the somewhat dark subject matter, Connor hopes that audiences are not deterred from watching Toxic.
“There is plenty of humor woven throughout the play,” he emphasized. “We have really emphasized that aspect, including lad culture and relatable themes. It’s about banter, puns, and light-hearted humor.”
“Many of us mask our emotions with humor, making the characters in Toxic highly relatable. We are providing a glimpse into these characters’ lives.”
“Just because they are struggling with depression, it doesn’t mean they are constantly down. They still carry on with life, watch football, and go to the pub with friends for a pint.”
“The lead character is entangled in love life drama and on the verge of alcoholism, but he still manages to have a laugh.”
“This is definitely not a gloomy play. I have worked on many melancholic plays in the past, and this is not one of them!”
“The humor enhances the experience, and hopefully, the audience leaves feeling like they have been on a journey filled with highs and lows the entire time. It’s an emotional rollercoaster for both the audience and the characters.”
Toxic is just one of the projects from Divided Culture, a company founded by Connor and Dan.
“We are now fully established as a Community Interest Company,” he revealed. “We have various projects, including outreach and collaborations with different communities.”
Connor’s interest in theatre began at a young age.
“I started at Casey Lee Jolleys theatre school near Burnden Park when I was around eight or nine,” he recalled. “I used my paper round money to pay for the sessions.”
“After that closed, I attended the Amanda Fairclough Academy in Horwich. For me, it was less about performing on stage and more about involvement in the creative industries.”
“I had a fantastic drama teacher in school, and I dabbled in directing. I realized that my opinions were valued and taken into account.”
Following his schooling, Connor attended Bury College and then Manchester Met.
“I may have gotten a bit carried away with the power,” he chuckled, “but I knew I wanted to be a director rather than a performer.”
After working in retail, Connor made the decision to spend a year in London, where he completed a Masters in theatre directing at the esteemed Mount View Theatre School, graduating last year.
“With the company Dan and I have now, I believe I have found my niche,” he expressed. “It certainly motivates me!”
As Toxic gears up for a tour with stops in Leeds, Manchester, Edgehill, and Bolton, what are Connor’s hopes for the play?
“It can only remain a small-scale production for so long,” he mentioned. “If someone sees it and wants to invest in it to stage it in larger venues, that would be fantastic.”
“Dan and I are focused on establishing ourselves now. We have secured funding for a series of projects in 2025, but none of them are shows.”
“We are still at heart theatre-makers, though we are equally dedicated to our various outreach projects. We are also delving into more writing, with a short film in the works.”
“For us, 2024 has been the year of setting things up. We have spent a lot of time on funding, business plans, and establishing a five-year plan. Now that all the tedious administrative work is done, 2025 will be the year we excel.”
Toxic will be at the Bolton Octagon on Saturday with matinee and evening performances. For more details, visit www.octagonbolton.co.uk