Plymouth Fringe Festival comes to University

Released: 26.05.15

The Desmond Tutu Theatre will play host to Plymouth Fringe Festival for the first time when 'Friction' by Cally Hayes, Directed by Kevin Johnson, previews on campus.  

Three days into motherhood, Rachel doesn’t recognise herself. There's nothing Sam won't do to keep his family together, but how do you beat an enemy you can't see?

Kevin Johnson, lecturer for the degree course ‘BA Hons Acting’ and Artistic Director for Symbiotic Theatre, has collaborated with perinatal mental health nurse and playwright Cally Hayes to direct this visceral and inspiring story of hard-won recovery which explores the resilience couples find when their world is falling apart.

Inspired by a series of unflinching interviews with couples that have come through postnatal depression, 'Friction' is a challenging and heartfelt piece of new writing from Cally Hayes of Documental Theatre.

Cally Hayes said: “This is the continuation of an amazing story. It began with a short piece of forum theatre for a perinatal mental health conference, successfully funded by Kickstarter last year. It has grown into several conference performances in the South West and London campaigning for better services for women and children and it is now a full length production.”

This second phase of Friction has involved interviewing more couples who have recovered from postnatal illness to further develop the story of ‘Rachel and Sam’. As a company we are committed to telling this story as often as we can to campaign for better recognition of this illness. But more importantly, we want to tell the story that celebrates the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit to come through an experience that nearly tears your world apart at a time when you should be happy.”

More information about BA (Hons) Acting.

Pledge to support to the campaign

 

TOUR DATES:

Friday 29 May 8pm

Saturday 30 May 8pm

University of St Mark & St John

Plymouth Fringe Festival

 

Tuesday 2 June 7pm

Saturday 6 June 2pm

Cygnet Theatre Festival:

Cygnet Theatre - Exeter

 

Saturday 27 June 1.30pm and 9.45pm

Sunday 28 June 2.30pm

Barnstable Fringe Theatrefest - StudioQT