“Jumping the Barriers” tells the story of a chance meeting on a train between a wealthy young graduate and a homeless northerner, and how this dramatic mirror casts light on the inequality of our society. James seemingly has it all – a good job, a nice flat in London, and a girlfriend who loves him. Everything is sorted. And that’s the problem. Nothing exciting ever happens to him. Enter Nathan, a streetwise scouser who is homeless and has just bunked on the train. Their short train journey shows us how first impressions can be deceiving, how we often take a lot for granted and that we always have a choice. With the continuing damage felt by austerity and with a country more divided than ever, we believe the time is right to bring “Jumping The Barriers” back to audiences across the country

The Courtyard Players was formed in 2015 by the coming together of working class actors who wanted to bring socially important and relevant productions to a wider audience; one of the main reasons for the establishment of this group was the lack of opportunities and funding for the type of drama we as a group wanted to write, stage and perform in. When writing, our mantra has always been “Make them think, and if you can make them laugh along the way, then even better”.

Acclaim for “Jumping the Barriers”;

“Witty, insightful, at times subtle and at other brash with poignant moments. The chemistry in this four person cast is palpable and the snappy script is performed with flair. Highly recommend”

“Completely heartwarming and poignant”

“This is an engrossing and elegantly written play that takes a couple of what you expect to be stereotypes and switches them around to challenge your prejudices and preconceptions”

( Full Review; https://therealchrisparkle.wordpress.com/2016/08/page/4/ )