Award-winning theatre company Taking Flight are to present playwright Kaite O’Reilly’s darkly-comic play peeling as part of a programme to open on International Women’s Day ahead of a spring tour across Wales.
The show was hailed as a game-changer in feminist and accessible theatre when it was first performed 17 years ago and will now be brought back to life once more, produced by Taking Flight Theatre Co. The show will open at The Riverfront in Newport on 8th March as part of a full-day of International Women’s Day celebrations before embarking on a tour across Wales which will culminate in a week-long run in Chapter, Cardiff. The production is being brought to life with the talents of over 30 creative women.
Taking Flight Theatre’s production of peeling is set to tour South Wales following its launch at Newport Riverfront on International Womens Day Photo by Raquel Garcia 4Pi Productions
peeling is a play within a play exploring the relationship between women, their bodies and children against a backdrop of man-made conflict. At times riotously funny, recipes, insults and secrets are shared and women’s control over their bodies explored.
A strikingly brilliant cast of D/deaf and disabled women are unapologetic in their views and provocations. In an epic, postmodern production being played out before them, wait at the back of the stage where they have been shoved because the theatre dressing rooms are not accessible to them.
As they await their brief moments in the spotlight, they comment on the action that they witness night after night. They discuss war and its effects, desire, motherhood, reproductive rights and, of course, celebrity gossip. They stitch sequins on to knickers, knit and make soup out of sight of the audience. As they bitch, moan and share, the audience will we get to know them, what they are hiding and what they choose to reveal.
In shadow, never centre stage, three performers await their moment in the light. Their words have been buried in dust, through the long corridor of time. The cast is made-up of three disabled actresses and a BSL interpreter; with interwoven BSL, live audio description and English captions at every show, peeling will challenge audiences to experience theatre afresh.
Taking Flight Theatre have been producing accessible productions for 10 years and are the company in Wales leading the way in terms of creative access. BSL will be interwoven throughout, with translation from Jean St Clair and will feature live audio description and creative captions.
peeling will open at The Riverfront in Newport on International Women’s Day on 8th March, there will be a full programme of celebratory events and the show will then tour 13 venues across Wales and England.
Taking Flight peeling Tpur Schedule
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8- 9th March The Riverfront, Newport (March 8th is press night as part of International Women’s Day events)
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13th March Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil
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14th March Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon
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19- 20 Mar Theatr Clwyd
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21st March Parc and Dare, Treorchy
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23rd March Galeri Caernarfon
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26th March Aberystwyth Arts Centre
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27th March Torch Theatre, Milford Haven
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28th March The Borough Theatre, Abergavenny
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29th March Blackwood Miner’s Centre
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2nd April Pontardawe Arts Centre
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10th April Ffwrnes, Llanelli
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12th April The Pegasus Theatre, Oxford
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30 Apr- 4 May Chapter, Cardiff
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Prices vary from venue to venue. Please see individual venues for ticket prices.
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This production will then tour England during the autumn 2019, funded by The Arts Council of England.