From Steel Mill to Police Beat: Ex-Detective, Jack Bryan, smashes myths in his hit comedy show ‘Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot!’
Former Dudley Steelworker, Union shop steward, 30-year police veteran and comedian, Jack Bryan is, once again, taking audiences behind the Thin Blue Line with his critically acclaimed, tragi-comedy, solo show, Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot!
Grittily honest, totally enlightening and hilariously funny tales of policing from the late 1970’s onwards.
It’s the late 1970’s, Jack Bryan, a young father, shop steward and steel worker experiences the pain of redundancy just before Christmas and the impending birth of his second child. Caught up in the decline of traditional British Industries he joins the police at a time when that organisation is also in a state of rapid change. For the next 30 years Jack witnesses, first-hand, some of the most important events in late 20th century, British social history: the race riots of the early 80s; the miners’ strike of 84-85; and the decimation of British Industries due to both globalisation and Thatcher.
Coupled with all this, Jack finds himself entering a world which very few people get to know… a kind of psychotic Narnia that is governed by its own rules.
In the telling of this story Jack attempts to explain to the general public the reality of this parallel world. The results are both grittily honest, totally enlightening and hilariously funny.
Mixing gritty, true-life career anecdotes with charismatic storytelling, Jack invites the public into the parallel universe he describes as a “Psychotic Narnia, governed by its own rules”.
This autobiographical show kicks off in the late 1970’s. Hit by sudden redundancy at a British steel works, just before Christmas and the impending birth of his second child, Jack takes an unexpected detour and joins the West Midlands Police force. For the next three decades he witnesses, first-hand, the frontline turbulence of late 20th century, British social history. From the early 1980s race riots and the 1984-85 miners’ strike to the devastating decimation of industrial towns due to a combination of Thatcherism and globalisation.
Spanning everything from raw uniformed beat policing to complex specialist investigation departments, Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot! shatters standard media myths. It explores the profound joy, unexpected heartaches, and institutional absurdities of a life spent in uniform.
“We didn’t just police the community; we entered an entirely different world,” says writer and performer Jack Bryan. “The show is about pulling back that curtain. It is grittily honest and deeply moving, but above all, it is funny. If you want to know what it really felt like to try and keep the peace when society was changing at a breakneck pace, you do not have to say anything … just come along and be entertained”.
Jack Bryan is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, mimic, and retired police detective. After starting his working life as a shop steward in traditional British industry, he spent 30 years resolving, investigating, and surviving crime on the streets of the UK. Today, he brings those unique, multi-layered experiences to the stage as a compelling, modern comedic voice.
Critical praise for Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot! Includes:
***** “An amusing, shocking and passionate personal account from someone who has been there for us at every level” ALISTAIR MCGOWAN, Comedian, Actor, Impressionist.
***** “A tour de force. A polished performance by a wonderfully engaging performer. So well-crafted from start
to finish. True life anecdotes of his career in the police are both harrowing and humorous, all delivered by a wide
range of mimicry and acting skills.” CHARMIAN INGRAM, Director, Starkadder Theatre Productions.
***** “A fascinating insight into a life spent in the police
force and a searing indictment of the changing value governments and society put on our officers”. COLIN RICHARDSON, MBE
***** “From the beat to the breakdown, ex-detective Jack Bryan doesn’t just tell a story; he lives it. Brace yourself for
a tragi-comedy journey through modern British policing
that’s so vivid you’ll feel every laugh and every surge of fury right alongside him”. TERENCE LEWISS, Playwright
***** “Grittily honest, totally enlightening and hilariously funny!” RYAN GOUGH, Comedy Promoter.
“Witty, educational, poignant … featuring brilliant multi-media elements.” Audience and Venue Reviews.
Tickets
‘Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot!’
The Lantern Theatre, 77 St James St, Brighton, BN2 1PA,
7pm, 19/20/22 November, Tickets £12/£10 concessions
https://www.ticketsource.com/act/2nd-chance-fringe-26-whisky-tango-foxtrot/e-rpgbkl
Running Time – 90-minute theatre show with interval
Age Advisory: 16+ (Contains some strong language and descriptions of authentic crime scenes).
