Buxton Festival Star Returns to Town For The Fringe

In 1984, Oldham based actor, Jeff Longmore, graced the stage at Buxton Opera House in the world premiere of James and the Giant Peach The Opera, and now in a turn-up for the books after almost thirty years, he’s back.

Jeff Longmore is known for his outlandish characters, fishnets, frocks and wigs, and is exchanging all that this summer to take on the challenging role in Dare to Know Theatre’s brand new drama ‘The Forgotten’.

Based on true events, ’The Forgotten’ follows George, played by Longmore, an early on set dementia sufferer who moves to a new care home. The experience brings up trauma for George, who tries to tell the story of his abuse by care staff, but as an unreliable witness, what is the truth to his experiences?

Jeff Longmore headed to Oldham Coliseum Theatre in 1978 to appear in four plays but ended up staying for four years, appearing in 27 consecutive plays including ‘Billy Liar’, ‘Bent’, ‘It’s a madhouse’, Fur Coat and No Knickers’, and ‘One Night Stand’, which transferred to the Apollo Theatre in The West End.

While at The Coliseum he was the first person to play Frank-n-Furter in the regional premiere of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, a part he continued to play many times on national tours.

Jeff is over the moon to be returning to Buxton after all these years, and is excited to be taking this dramatic turn in his career. He said; “It’s been a challenge for me as an actor to play George, he’s a very complex character with so many levels of emotions, thought and trying to get into the mind of a 64 year old man with dementia. It has been both physically and emotionally challenging but very rewarding. It has been a great experience working with Dare to Know Theatre, putting all my trust in the director, Miranda Parker and the shining talent of the writer, Jake Talbot”.

Jeff is supported in the play by an impressive cast of almost 30 actors, who lend their voices to characters within George’s life and past, including Kenneth Alan Taylor, Julie Edwards and Jeni Howarth-Williams.

It’s Dare to Know Theatre’s first time at Buxton Fringe, but is their fourth show since the formation of the company in 2020.

Dare to Know Theatre, consists of Writer Jake Talbot, and Director Miranda Parker, and this year are hoping to expand their work as one of Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s Associate Artists

Previously with the Coliseum, Dare to Know Theatre produced ‘A Broken Family, Together’ a digital verbatim play telling the story of healthcare workers at The Royal Oldham Hospital during the pandemic, which garnered over 6000 views on YouTube and was featured on Granada Reports.

On ‘The Forgotten’, Co-Founder of Dare to Know Theatre and writer of the play, Jake Talbot said; “‘The Forgotten’ is very different to what we normally do, we’re using technology in a way that we’ve never done before, but in a way that is still accessible to the audience and that is tour-able to arts festivals such as Buxton Fringe and GM Fringe. At the heart of the story, is a local man, with a local story, looking into local history, and for me, that’s what Dare to Know Theatre is about.”

‘The Forgotten’ comes to The Underground for Buxton Fringe Festival on the 6th, 7th & 8th of July, and tickets are available at www.daretoknowtheatre@gmail.com/shows-and-tickets

You can find out more about the show, Dare to Know Theatre and their work at www.daretoknowtheatre.com.