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Haddaway & Write 2022

In September 2022, our inaugural Haddaway & Write initiative was supported by Arts Council England, in association with The Exchange 1856, and culminated in a live production of the 6 heart-warming and hilarious short plays for a sold-out audience.

Creases

By Louise Powell

Pat and Maisie iron for a living. Both grandma and granddaughter are coming to terms with life not turning out as they’d expected. Through its humour and sadness, Creases offers two different working class women’s perspectives and experiences of life and celebrates them coming together to support each other despite their differences in age and education.

Directed by: Sarah Tarbit
Performed by: Harrison Rowley-Lynn & Helen Coverdale

Capable

By Jackie Edwards

Lyla turns 18 at midnight and is avoiding going home to her London-themed ‘surprise’ party. She’s starting to realise she doesn’t really want to go to uni in London after being offered a place. She’s always been ‘capable Lyla’ and doesn’t want to let her Mam down, but her increasing anxiety around achieving her perceived potential has become too great to ignore…

Directed by: Christopher Strain
Performed by: Becky Lindsay

The Edge

By Barbara Williams

Set in South Shields, The Edge is inspired by male suicide statistics and the ‘Cliff Angel’ volunteers who roam the cliffs at night to prevent suicide attempts. In The Edge, Azza and Sam find themselves literally on the edge discussing their differences and similarities in this powerful short play that explores identity and vulnerability with honesty and warmth.

Directed by: Sarah Tarbit
Performed by: Soroosh Lavasani & Jake Jarratt

Separation Anxiety

By Jamie McLeish

Mike and Anna are in the process of divorce and are examining whether, amongst the animosity and insulting barbs, they might be able to maintain a friendship. When they end up unexpectedly matched for a date, they’re forced to question if there’s anything left of their shared experience and long-term bond that might be worth salvaging in this relatable and heart-warming short comedy.

Directed by: Christopher Strain
Performed by: Helen Coverdale & Philip Harrison

Big Girls Don’t Cry

By Sunny Howlader

Big Girls Don’t Cry is Sunny Howlader’s impressive writing debut. Bree is a young woman growing up in Newcastle. In a moving and bittersweet monologue, she discusses her grief and how she struggles to process the loss of a loved one. Using humour and charm, Bree explores why grief isn’t talked about enough and why we don’t have the resources to handle it.

Directed by: Sarah Tarbit
Performed by: Harrison Rowley-Lynn

Stairway to Hebburn

By Jake Wilson Craw

A dad who loves Led Zeppelin and his very supportive daughter, Becca, start enacting a necromantic ritual to raise the dead… Stairway To Hebburn is both hilarious and poignant as it follows the unexpected journey of a dad and daughter coming to terms with a great loss and discovering how it has affected their relationship. They say never meet your heroes…

Directed by: Christopher Strain
Performed by: Philip Harrison & Becky Lindsay

2022 Creative Team

Harriet Ghost
Producer/Joint Artistic Director

Micky McGregor
Producer/Joint Artistic Director

Christopher Strain
Associate Producer/Director

Sarah Tarbit
Dramaturg/Director

Mike Fleetham
Technical Manager

Wycombe 89 Media
Film & Photography

2022 Funders and Supporters