************************* In the Footsteps of Mr Butler, ironically parallels the complex personal relationships of a troupe of touring actors against scenes from Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’. It does so in a way which is beautifully acted and challenges the audience to re-visit their understanding of the limitations of ‘disability’ and the impact which those limitations, real or imagined, can have on an individual’s life. The performance includes live music written specially for the play by Musical Director Laurence Kaye and a creative stage set by the Designer Jane Revitt. Both are well known for their truly innovative work with Horse and Bamboo and I.O.U Theatre Companies. For lovers of all thing ‘Yorkshire’ the play celebrates its strong local and historical connections by planning its touring schedule to literally follow in the footsteps of Samuel Butler and his acting troupe around Yorkshire culminating in a performance at The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond where the actual Samuel Butler, one of the regions most colourful theatrical characters, was a well known and respected performer and impresario. Jon Palmer Artistic director of Full Body And The Voice and co-author says:-‘We hope our audiences are as excited about this new production as we are. The whole experience of bringing together different people with different skills gave us the potential to create something really unique, which we are sure audiences will savour.’ Full Body and the Voice is a theatre company, with a mission is to work with and develop the talents of actors with learning disabilities through bespoke productions, which tour mainstream theatres catering for general audiences. The company is resident at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield. The company works not only with talented and well known disabled actors but with experienced writers and non-disabled performers of national repute to ensure that the quality of experience for both actors and audiences lingers in the memory as long as possible. The company has a strong regional reputation and also works on the international circuit having just returned recently from some groundbreaking collaborative work in Japan. Ian McMillan is best know has been a poet, broadcaster, commentator and programme maker for 20 years and is a regular guest on BBC2’s Newsnight Review, The Culture Show and sometimes partners Paul Merton in Have I got News For You. He is also poet in residence for Barnsley FC and hosts the weekly BBC3 show The Verb. Tickets are priced at £8.00 & £9.00 (Under 25s and Students at £3.50) and can be obtained by visiting the York Theatre Royal Box Office or by calling 01904 623568. The production is also part of York Theatre Royal’s, buy one event get another half price offer in The Studio. Tickets are also available at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk **************************