About The Bench: A Tale from Paradise Heights

 It’s haunted. The bench in the park. The one by the war memorial.

Over twelve months, sixteen lives intertwine around a graffiti scarred bench. A thief, a fake clairvoyant, a homeless man, two burglars, a street sweeper, two war veterans, an artist, a widow, a drug dealer, a real clairvoyant, a loan shark, an angel, and a ghost — they have all sat here at least once this year. Love, loss, laughter, and terror all pass across the aged wood of that bench.  

Some people are afraid of ghosts, but it’s the living that can do the real damage; and before the year is out one of them will be murdered here…

The Bench is haunting, enchanting, hilarious, and at times terrifying; it is a deeply human tale from the world of Paradise Heights. 

Entirely gripping. Utterly enthralling. A play like Joe O'Byrne's comes along to remind us all what really matters

- Grimmfest

Written, produced and directed by Joe O’Byrne, this sharp and telling play features all manner of fascinating characters. Highly recommended and a play and writer that will surely go on to great thing

- Manchester Evening News