Hornets help out plucky Wheatsheaf

Rochdale Hornets player Michael Ratu rehearsing with 'Up N’ Under' cast at the Curtain Theatre

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Rochdale Hornets player Michael Ratu was called upon this week to assist the clapped out rabble that is the Wheatsheaf Arms prepare for the biggest game of their lives against the Cobblers, the best side in the North.

Ratu was on hand to assist the Wheatsheaf players in a weights session, pass on advice about tackle technique and was even put through his paces by coach Hazel, although all was not as it seemed.

The session didn’t take place on a field, but on the stage at the Curtain Theatre, Rochdale and the Wheatsheaf Arms are a fictitious team in the John Godber play Up N’ Under, which is being performed at the Milkstone Road theatre from next week.

The play, which was also made into a film featuring Samantha Janus and Neil Morrissey, features Arthur, an ex-rugby league player who could have still been playing were he not barred for life for violent conduct. The disciplinary board-member who pushed for his ban, Reg, is the manager of a sevens team, the Cobblers; a team he is so proud of, he reckons they are unbeatable.

In a fit of piqued pride, Arthur bets Reg his house that he can coach any team to beat the Cobblers, with Reg to name the team. He does; the team from the Wheatsheaf Arms, a sevens team so poor they can only field four, and whose place in the record books is held by never having won a game. Arthur now has five weeks to train the stragglers to take on the Cobblers in their head-to-head, in an all-or-nothing battle with pride, ambition and livelihoods at stake.

Hornets Chairman, Mark Wynn said: “I attended the Curtain Theatre recently for one of their productions and in the curtain speech it was mentioned that the next play was Up N’ Under.

“As the town's professional rugby team we thought we should be involved in some way and after some discussions with Lynn the theatre director she suggested we should bring along one of our players to a rehearsal and pass on some tips on how to add some authenticity.

“Michael is a former Fiji international who was born and bred in Rochdale and he was more than happy to go down, have a chat with the cast and directors and generally have a bit of fun. We got to see a couple of scenes being rehearsed and we now can’t wait until the opening night.

“The Curtain Theatre is a fantastic Rochdale Institution and we are delighted they are performing a rugby themed play in Rochdale, a place steeped in rugby league history.” 

Up 'n' Under was first performed at The Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, in 1984 and comes to the Curtain Theatre, Milkstone Road, Rochdale from the 8 to 20 February.

For booking information please click here