As part of the celebration season for the Crucible in Sheffield's 40th birthday,  Forced Entertainment presented a public rehearsed reading of the That Night Follows Day, performed by 16 8 – 14 year
old local young people.

That Night Follows Day is written by Tim Etchells, the artist, writer and Artistic Director of Forced Entertainment. The piece, performed by children but written for an adult audience, explores how what adults say and do shape a child’s world - the truths, half truths, white lies they tell; the pet names they give; the rules they put in place; and the things they wish for their children. In this performance however, it’s the children to get to speak and the adults who have to listen!

The piece was first produced with the Flemish theatre organisation Victoria (now Campo) and
has toured the world since its premiere in May 2007, clocking up 180 public performances in
many different countries from Germany to Australia. Up until now it has only been performed in Dutch
using subtitles so it can be understood in a variety of languages.  The Crucible rehearsed reading was
the first time it had been performed in the original English. The young people rehearsed the piece in a series of workshops with Tim Etchells and other members of Forced Entertainment.

That Night Follows Day was written and directed by Tim Etchells

The performance at the Crucible on 5 November 2011 was performed by  (L-R) Luke Mosley, Liam Follin, Francesca Turton, Ciara Shiles, Leon Bailey, Lily Hardiman, Helen Jockel, Anthony Windith, Seth Etchells, Zara La Peta Webb, Milan Spruce, Jonathan Aubrey-Bentley, Erin Follin, Maya Earp, Sophie Dean and Jack Shield.

Hester Chillingworth, Claire Marshall and Terry O'Connor worked with the young people on their performance.

Lighting Designer Richard Lowdon

With thanks to Ali Fowler and Andrew Loretto from Sheffield Theatres and also Carolan Copley-Tucci.

Some feedback from the audience:

I saw That Night Follows Day by Forced Entertainment on Saturday at the Crucible and it was brilliant. It made me cry and laugh and I keep thinking about it. The writing was superb - it was so imaginative and marvellous - one of the best things I have seen this year.

Brutal!  Moved to tears.  Great cast.  Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you

Just watched 16 v. talented youngsters at @ForcedEnts  #thatnightfollowsday   - utterly brilliant.

I laughed and cried and nodded my head a lot in recognition of its many truth's. We have seen many theatre productions and this ranks up on top with the best of them. The young performers were excellent and I hope you will be able to pass this on to them somehow. I wanted to give them a standing ovation as I thought they were so professional and did a great job! Many many thanks for creating this lovely work which will remain in my memory always.

Performance of the week - #thatnightfollowsday at Sheffield Crucible - well worth the 300 odd mile round trip.

#thatnightfollowsday was phenomenal, a very talented bunch of young people reading @Tim_Etchells' comical and at times disturbing text.

Still thinking about Forced Entertainments' wonderful show, That Night Follows Day, at @crucibletheatre this weekend. It was stunning.

 The text of That Night Follows Day is available to buy from our shop.