There is a world that can transport us from the ordinary to the extraordinary, where we are one perfect throw away from greatness, a place where we can all be champions. That world is darts.
Through this noble sport, Alex Elliott asks the unfathomable question: “What does it mean to be best in the world?”
Join him on a hilarious, occasionally heroic and heart-warming journey, featuring true stories of success, live darts and celebrations of our own personal triumphs. Motivational bananas included.
Who knows? You might be the best audience in the world.
Alex playing darts at The Steamboat, South Shields
Darts Night at The Steamboat 3 April 2012
Last night Simon, our fantastic production manager, organised a trip to The Steamboat, South Shields, for a pub league darts match, and it was BRILLIANT.
Chris, one of the members of the team, talked us through his darts kit. Spare flights, different shafts, flight protectors, a darts sharpener, a wax pebble to make sure sweaty fingers don’t ruin your grip in the heat of competition. We need a trip to the shops!
He showed us a scorecard, which his team have created just for themselves. “So you can see how you’re doing, challenge yourself.” Each player scores points if they hit a double or throw over 60 during the match. Mind you, John goes for 19s, so if he gets 57 that counts too. They use this points system to decide who gets into the team. It’s not about who you are, it’s about how you throw.
Chris had a 180 badge in his darts kit. Apparently they used to give them to a player if they scored a 180 in a match. They stopped doing that about 2 weeks before Chris threw his. However, a guy from the team gave him one of his old badges.
Oh, and The Steamboat beat The Trimmers 6-0. A “grannying” as Jocky Wilson used to say.
Jocky Wilson: Best in the World 23 March 2012
It was strange timing to hear the news of Jocky Wilson’s death while we’re making this show. We were all saddened to hear of the passing of one of darts’ biggest heroes, and also a man who turned his back on the game and chose a simple, quiet life in his hometown of Kirkcaldy.
Alex Kelly, from Third Angel, has been working with us this week, and he dug out a great and rare interview Jocky gave. It got us thinking about ordinary lives that contain extraordinary success, and what happens after you’ve become best in the world. It seems to us that Jocky’s choice to leave darts and drink behind, and spend the rest of his life living a quiet life with his family was his real gold medal moment.
Here’s to you, Jocky.
Andy's model of the set
Stepping up to the oche 19 March 2012
Five months after our residencies at BAC and Northern Stage, we are back together: Alex Elliott (performer), Carina Rodney (writer), Andy Stephenson (designer), Simon Henderson (production manager), Leyla Asadi (producer) and me, Annie Rigby (director).
Andy brought a model of the set, which filled us all with delight. Alex amazed us by having so much of the material at his fingertips, despite not having spoken those words in a long time. But top of the list of issues to address was the big one. What next?
There’s so much that fascinates us in this show. The dedication (or obsession) that it takes to become best in the world, being second best, letting go of success, being the best at being ourselves (and what that looks like).
So much to think about. It’s time to step up to the oche!
Thanks to our best audiences in the world. Find out about their golden moments here. You can also take a look at Sky journalist, India Adams's golden moment here.
Performer: Alex Elliott Director: Annie Rigby Writer: Carina Rodney Designer: Andrew Stephenson Lighting Designer: Kevin Tweedy Production team: Simon Henderson, Craig Davidson, Lucy Crimmens Mentor: Alexander Kelly
Developed at BAC and Northern Stage with support from ARC Stockton Arts Centre, Arts Centre Washington and Northumbria University. Thanks also to Unicorn Darts for boards and arrows!
Thank you to everyone who crowd-funded us to take Best in the World to Edinburgh: Rachel Adam, Sally Allen, Leyla Asadi, Roxanne Asadi, Tim Bailey, Helen Charlton, Carol Clewlow, Susan Coffer, Kate Craddock, Lucy Crimmens, Beckie Darlington, John Darlington, Colin Davies, Anna Disley, Steve Drayton, Karen English, Amy Fawdington, Wayne Gamble, Jane Hall, Alison Holmes, Nicola Irvine, Kevin Jamieson, Davey Jones, Rosie Kellagher, Sam Kirkby, Joanne McKenna, Claire Newton, Sarah Norman, Big People, Gayle Playford, Nicola Pomfret, Gary Pritchard, Room 732, Becci Sharrock, Bill Shepherd, Andy Stephenson & Stephen Dodds, Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh, Nicola Triscott, Ed Vainker, Sally Whitehill, Erica Whyman and Mike Worthington.
