now induct the audience for Timon into a management-training seminar. This leads to an amusing introductory assessment of the Bard’s work in terms of how it can enhance your managerial skills: thus, Hamlet becomes about “prioritising your to-do list”. As Michael Billington explained, ‘If Adrian Jackson’s production of Timon works, it is less because of the packaging than because of its grasp of the raw essentials... His success (though) lies in getting to the despairing heart of Shakespeare’s play. The production may be intended as a moral warning against a culture that elevates reckless individualism. What comes across, through a lively ensemble, is Shakespeare’s piercing understanding of Timon’s tragic bipolarity.’ Cathy (2016) Forced out of London by spiraling living costs, Cathy finds herself in an unfamiliar town with no friends and no money; pushed to make choices she doesn't want to make. Candid, poignant and intimate, Ali Taylor's play Cathy offers a timely reflection on the lives of those at the sharp end of economic austerity, faced with impossible choices and an uncertain future. First broadcast in 1966 on the BBC, Cathy Come Home depicts a young family’s slide into homelessness. The first screening of the film led to public outrage at the state of housing in Britain and became a defining cultural landmark, demonstrating the power of art to effect social and political change. Cathy was directed by Adrian Jackson, designed by Lucy Sierra, with lighting design by Mark Dymock and sound by Matt Lewis. On its 2016 tour, Cathy was seen by more than 2,200 people, 170 of whom saw it in a hostel. In theatres, the hugely successful £1 ticket initiative has offered vulnerable and homeless people an accessible way to experience this powerful and emotive Forum Theatre piece; almost 20% of tickets have been sold at this price. Adrian Jackson said, ‘The reaction to Cathy has been overwhelming, with audiences strongly moved, angry and compassionate in equal measure. Ali Taylor’s timely and powerful play – tapping into the same zeitgeist as I, Daniel Blake and Love at the National Theatre – has now been performed to packed houses in 15 theatres and hostels across the country from Exeter to Cumbria, and afterwards each audience has offered ideas and strategies in dynamic Forum Theatre sessions.’ The Ruff Tuff Cream Puff Estate Agency (2021- present) Co-Produced by Cardboard Citizens, Coventry City of Culture Trust, and Belgrade Theatre.The Ruff