Les flies back to the University nest

Les Simpson graduated from the University of Teesside 13 years ago with a BA (Hons) degree in History of Ideas and English.  He is set to return on 4 and 5 of April, swooping into the University with a flock of birds.

However, Les hasn’t joined a team of aerial artists. He is part of the North-East based theatre company threeovereden, who will stage a modern version of the ancient Greek comedy The Birds. Originally written by Aristophanes, the play has been updated by award winning poet Sean O’Brien.

The production is touring the North-East and will be staged in the University’s Main Hall, Brittan Building, on Tuesday 4 April at 7.30pm, and Wednesday 5 April at 7.30pm. Tickets are £4.50 or £3.50 with concessions. It tells the story of two young men, Pez and Eck, who start to build a city for birds in their search for a perfect society. Pez becomes driven by his own ambitions and incurs the wrath of the Gods.

In addition to his theatre work, Les has also appeared in the cult werewolf film Dog Soldiers and the 2005 thriller The Descent. Les, 39, is from Middlesbrough and a former student of Sarah Metcalfe Secondary School in Eston and Stockton-Billingham Technical College, where he studied drama. He then moved to Drama School in London, returning to the North-East in his mid-20’s.

Les said: “I love this area and I love the University. I’m thrilled to be able to give something back. As a theatre company we want to connect with the area and raise the cultural profile of the Tees Valley. The University has played a crucial role in this, they’ve been most supportive.

“We’re very excited about touring this interpretation of The Birds. And we’re very fortunate to have the writer, Sean O’Brien, on board.”

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