This season we’re celebrating the Bristol and West Country theatre makers bringing productions to TFT.
In the first of our new interview series, GURT Productions’ Artistic Director and actor Casey Lloyd talks to us about his connection to the region, the story behind their production ‘WWG: GURTmania’, and what audiences can look forward to when the show opens on 14 October.
As well as being Artistic Director, Casey also plays the role of ‘Brad Habits’ in the show.
Hi Casey, Tell us about GURT Productions and your West Country connection!
The whole company is Bristolian in its DNA. Most – if not all – of the company are from Bristol. I met GURT co-founders Benj and Toby whilst we were all working at the Bristol Old Vic, and we’re all alumni of their ‘Made In Bristol’ programme.
When founding the company, we knew that Bristol as a place and location plays such an important part in the stories we tell. We knew that needed to be evident in our company name – and so GURT Productions was born. The creative freelancers we work with are also all based within the South West – it’s fair to say that we love Bristol and the West Country.
As a company, we’re driven to create work that appeals to new audiences, bringing people who don’t normally go to the theatre into theatre spaces for the first time.
Do you think YOUR connection to Bristol has influenced your creative work, or the path you’ve taken into theatre?
Without a single doubt! Personally, as a ‘benefits-to-working class’ artist born and raised in Bristol, I knew I wanted to make work here. After initially training in Musical Theatre at the London College of Music, I had no hesitation in moving back to the West Country.
Although my work has taken me to wonderful places, nothing ever beats working in the best city in the world!
What can you tell us about the show?
WWG: GurtMania is an outrageous, fast-paced comedy theatre show that is both a love letter to the world of wrestling and an examination of what it means to be a man in the 21st century. Made in GURT Production’s trademark comedy style, audiences can expect quick, witty, laugh-a-minute dialogue with high octane fight sequences and a sprinkle of audience participation… don’t worry though, you won’t be expected to wrestle!
The show in itself is also set within a semi-professional wrestling academy based in the South West – but just because it’s set in the South West, it doesn’t mean that you need to know the area well to enjoy the humour or the show!
Where did the idea for WWG: GURTmania come from?
All of our shows develop from genuine interests, passions and loves of the company – our first show, ‘Gurt Haunted’ was developed because myself and the other founding members of the company grew up watching & loving the paranormal investigation T.V. show ‘Most Haunted’.
During our South West Tour of ‘Gurt Haunted’ last Autumn, we started talking about what our next project could be. We knew that we didn’t want to be a one trick pony, that we wanted to make a show that had a message but could also be silly, playful and joyous. After throwing a few ideas around, we landed on the idea of making a show that focused on the world of wrestling. Benj and Toby are both die hard fans of WWE, whilst -if I’m honest- I had no idea about the wrestling world!
After some initial research (which mostly involved me watching WWE: Wrestlemania) wrestling soon presented itself as the perfect lens to explore themes of masculinity, aggression and power play – while also providing rich content for comedy and outright silliness.
Are there any themes or ideas in the show that resonate with you personally?
The interrogation of male relationships, power play, male aggression and the importance of having positive male role models.
As a young man growing up on a council estate in Bristol, I didn’t feel I had the tools to process anger as an emotion or the role models I needed to help me understand what positive masculinity or healthy relationships could look like. I also often found it difficult to manage my emotions and anger – often landing myself into trouble at school.
I also feel it is so important not to be too didactic in form or approach when exploring these themes. This is why the world of wrestling provides the perfect grounds to explore such themes – as it gives plenty of room for light, silliness, interrogation and challenge.
“Although my work has taken me to wonderful places, nothing ever beats working in the best city in the world!”
Why do you think this is a story worth telling now?
Because this story – literally and metaphorically – wrestles with some of the most important themes and topics that are in the current zeitgeist and are coming up in conversations that are happening in living rooms right across the country.
On the surface, combat sports and wrestling can be seen as violent. This story shines a light on how wrestling and other combat sports can be a positive outlet for aggression, whilst also providing a vital space for community and connection.
It also shines a light on the importance of play, silliness and the vital role comedy and laughter has in helping us digest, process and learn.
What’s been the most memorable part of creating this production?
Hands down working with our community focus groups.
As part of our research and development process for this production, we were fortunate enough to receive funding from The Glastonbury Family Arts Foundation to run focus groups with men across Bristol who don’t typically engage with theatre, exploring themes of masculinity, role models, aggression and combat sports (including wrestling).
The discussions, conversations, thoughts, and connections from these focus groups provided the catalyst for some of the central questions, themes and moments within the show.
Not only have their ideas directly inspired and fed into the work we have made, but we were able to pay them for their time and provide all who attended the sessions with a free ticket to the performance, many of whom have never been to Tobacco Factory Theatres before.
We as a company are beyond grateful for their vulnerability, participation, support and energy – it’s been such an amazing experience creating this with a community voice embedded from the onset and we can’t wait to share it with all who took part.
What are you looking forward to about bringing the show to Tobacco Factory Theatres?
This is our first time in the Factory Theatre – we are beyond excited to play our story out in the iconic in-the-round space, which lends itself so perfectly to the world of wrestling – we’ve been having so much fun playing with this layout!!! We cannot wait to bring audiences old and new together for a night of drama, laughs and pure chaos!
We hope that people will leave aching from the laughter and that, once the ache has stopped, they can have open conversations with the people in their lives about the themes and topics explored in the show.
Any final thoughts?
Although this show uses the wrestling world to frame its story, this show is not exclusively for wrestling fans – you don’t need to have any preconceived knowledge or love for the sport – so come along, grab a drink and enjoy the chaos!
Thanks for chatting to us Casey, we can’t wait for WWG: Gurtmania to open next week!
Photo credit: Ed Felton
Posted on 09 October 2026
