A FILMMAKER used to the glamour of working in Hollywood will tell the story of his choice to ditch his career and move to Greater Manchester in a new show.
Hopwood DePree left behind a life of sun, pool parties and his film career to live near Rochdale, and will explain why at this year’s Fringe.
His Edinburgh stand-up comedy show titled ‘The Yank is a Manc! My Ancestors & Me’ will detail the reasons for the career change and offer food for thought to audiences.
The show recounts a rollercoaster ride to rescue his much-loved 600-year-old family home ‘Hopwood Hall’ from dereliction.
Originally built in 1426, the 60 -room mansion was home to the Hopwood family until the early 20th century, when both male heirs were tragically killed in World War One.
Before then, one branch of the Hopwood Hall Estate family had left England for the USA to start new lives, eventually founding a town in the late 1700’s that became known as Hopwood, Pennsylvania, where DePree’s grandfather was born.
The show will run from the 19th-24th August 2019 at the Surgeons Hall venue in Edinburgh’s Nicholson Street.
Speaking about his upcoming show, Hopwood said: “I love sharing the story with a live audience and to have that interaction.
“I used to perform stand-up in LA so it has been fantastic to pick it back up and now to have a show at Edinburgh Fringe – well, frankly, I never foresaw that happening!
“The Hopwood Hall project can be daunting, but with the support both locally and nationally and with the incredible help from heritage experts it has been absolutely amazing. Perhaps the Yank really will become a Manc!”
Tickets for Edinburgh Fringe are shown here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/yank-is-a-manc-my-ancestors-me
