We caught up with the 14-strong cast of ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS to talk to us about the excitement and challenges that come with staging three simultaneous plays.

• What is your name, who are you playing, and is this your first time at Sheffield Theatres/working in Sheffield?

Denise: I’m Denise Black, playing Susie Spencer. No, I love Sheffield and have played here many times (and filmed).

Andrew: I am Andrew Macbean, playing Leo. It’s my first time working at Sheffield Theatres and first time in Sheffield – apart from a stag night, which can’t count!

• ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS is a bold undertaking – can you explain broadly what this theatrical event is.

Denise: ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS is a brilliant trilogy penned by Chris Bush – an ambitious first, three plays about Sheffield past, present and future.

Andrew: It’s lots of different people’s stories, all coming together to tell one epic tale about life today in Sheffield.

• What excites you most about ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS?

Andrew: It’s all epic in total, but made up of lots of individual stories - each one human, with failures and successes, lost loves and of course making beautiful scissors.

Denise: It’s sexy, it’s young, it’s fresh, and it involves lots of people in the same room! So just the antidote we need now!

• Tell us a little more about your character. Are they relatable to you in any way?

Denise: Susie Spencer is a sassy, rock-and-roll rebel. A woman with a mind and a sense of humour and purpose about what is right and wrong. So a chance for me to let off steam!

Andrew: Leo is my age. He is a man getting ready for the next stage in his life. During the 90 minutes of this play, his future is decided. That makes me, as Andrew, excited.

• Finally, why should people come to watch ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS?

Andrew: This is a story about all of us – individually and as a society. There are very funny bits but some moments may make you cry – be warned! Today’s world with all its foibles!

• What is your name, who are you playing, and is this your first time at Sheffield Theatres/working in Sheffield?

Chanel: I’m Chanel– playing the character of Coco. It is my first time working in Sheffield and I’m so excited to kick start my relationship with the city in this epic show celebrating the theatres 50^th Anniversary.

Daisy:I’m Daisy May – playing Molly! The other half of Co-codamol. This is my first time at Sheffield Theatres, but I performed in Soldier On which toured to Sheffield City Hall as part of the Invictus Games celebrations. I believe Prince Hazza was there!

• ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS is a bold undertaking – can you explain broadly what this theatrical event is?

Chanel: A theatrical first with three plays that explore the history and heritage of Sheffield and its people, past and present, and whether we best create a future through conservation or revolution. Each of the three plays - Rock, Paper and Scissors - reveals new secrets, new narratives, and new struggles.

• What made you want to be part of this production?

Daisy: It feels so epic to be part of something that hasn’t been done before and to celebrate 50 years of this building’s legacy... how could I not jump at the opportunity!?

• What excites you most about ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS?

Daisy:I love that audience members will have a unique experience of the shows depending the order you see them in... I’m also low-key obsessed with Chris Bush so it feels really exciting to bring Molly to life for the first time!

Chanel: We are very lucky to have such a brilliant stage management team and I’m most excited to work with them to deliver a project of such scale and logistical ambition, and to do justice to Chris Bush’s magical writing.

• Finally, why should people come to watch ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS?

Daisy: On the surface, ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS is a joyous farce to behold, speckled with queer joy... but underneath it all, this is a story about love, the human desire for legacy and our chosen family

• What is your name, who are you playing, and is this your first time at Sheffield Theatres/working in Sheffield?

Dumile: I am Dumile Sibanda and I play Ava. This is my Sheffield Theatres stage debut.

Jabez: I’m Jabez, I’m playing Mason. I’m thrilled to say this is my first time at Sheffield Theatres!

Maia: Hi, I’m Maia and I’m playing the role of Liv. And yes, this is my first time working in Sheffield!

Joe: My name’s Joe and I’m playing Trent. This is my first time working in Sheffield.

• ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS is a bold undertaking – can you explain broadly what this theatrical event is?

Jabez: A theatrical first, one cast, three plays, all running simultaneously – we’ll be dashing between stages to tell three standalone stories that are intrinsically connected.

Dumile: This is Sheffield Theatres’ 50^th year anniversary and ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS is its ‘golden jubilee’! There will be three plays running on three different stages at the same time.

• What excites you most about ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS?

Dumile: What excited me the most is the physical movement of the play. Moving from room to room, stage to stage.

Joe: I’m so excited to work with this amazing company. This is my first professional show and I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else.

• Tell us a little more about your character. Are they relatable to you in any way?

Maia: Liv is a confident, stubborn, front-footed young woman who is an apprentice at the factory. But under the front, is a vulnerable, confused teen.

Jabez: Mason is a bit of a hot head, strong-willed and possibly a bit misguided. He’s not really a huge fan of other people; but deep down he feels very intensely. I think Mason and I are quite different, but we share a strong passion for the things we believe in.

Dumile: Ava is a determined, thoughtful and overlooked character. I relate to her because of her focus and drive.

Joe: Trent is mysterious. He’s very calm, but has a lot going on under the surface. He wants the best for all his mates, so I really relate to that.

• Finally, why should people come to watch ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS?

Maia: Because firstly, Chris Bush has written three spectacular plays. And secondly, because this has NEVER been attempted before, so come and watch history!

Jabez: Because it’s going to be the best kind of bonkers! If you want to laugh, cry and be part of something special, then definitely come to watch!

Dumile: Because there is something special in every one of the plays and something for all.

Joe: As well as the exciting premise of three plays all at once, the shows have such heart. It’s not a gimmick, and you won’t want to miss them.