A former Call the Midwife star has written her first drama aiming to tackle the nation’s growing binge drinking problem to be performed in Battersea this month.
Screwed is the first play written by Kathryn O’Reilly, who recently starred as Daisy Blacker in the hit BBC1 series, and the production will make its debut at Battersea’s Theatre503 on June 28.
The play follows two dysfunctional friends who clock in on a factory floor after a night of heavy drinking on the tiles and aims to highlight the insidious nature of alcoholism and violence among women and other taboo subjects.
Ms O’Reilly said: “My aim is to engage and challenge audiences in a way that’s both artistic and personal.
“I want to shine a spotlight on current issues that aren’t going away and put these stories on stage.”
Workshops and post-show discussions will accompany the performance to offer a platform to debate gender, class, binge drinking, violence and promiscuity among women and its cultural impact on society.
More than 2.5million people drink more than the 14 units recommended per week in one day according to the Financial Times.
As a result there has been a rise in alcohol binge-related deaths and hospitalisation from violence by and towards women.
As well as writing her own play, Ms O’Reilly will be starring in A View from Islington North at the Arts Theatre this month.
Scarred will be directed by award-winning Sarah Meadows (Where Do Little Birds Go?, VAULT Festival and Edinburgh), and was developed over the past few years with support from ATC, OvalHouse Theatre, Pleasance Islington, The Production Exchange, Theatre Deli, Out of Joint and The Richard Carne Trust.
The play runs from Tuesday 28 June to Saturday 23 July.
For tickets, which are £15 (£12 concessions), call Theatre503 box office on 020 7978 7040 or visit theatre503.com
Image courtesy of Hana Kovacs, with thanks
