SKIN

Writer/Director

O'Reilly Theatre

Photography by Emma Earnshaw

This production was my first time writing and directing a full length play. It was a one-act exploration into life as a chronic illness patient, centred on the semi-autobiographical story of a young woman named Sadie who is diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma. I wasn't sure quite what to expect from the experience - I knew I would be throwing myself in the deep end and it would be such an incredible learning experience but I really wanted to figure out how much I might enjoy directing and the process of writing and re-writing my own work.

Stands proudly next to [Angels in America; People, Places and Things; The Inheritance]... This is what theatre is for.

~ Peter Kessler, BAFTA-winning TV Producer

There are so many moving parts in the journey from a show's conception to the curtain drop on the final night, and you can never anticipate which aspects of the show will come together seamlessly and which areas will require more persistence and determination. In order to make it happen, you really have to put your heart and soul into the show - it's that passion and drive that will make sure to finish it to a standard you are proud of.

Ambitious, emotional and, above all, a very human portrayal of the absurdity and swiftness of chronic illness. ★★★★½

~ Ruth Port, The Oxford Blue

The concept for SKIN initially came to me as I lay in an MRI machine in August 2021. The MRI scan was part of a regular check up appointment for my health, but as I lay there, allowing the sound and sensations to wash over me, a questions surfaced in my mind: how could I simulate this sensory experience onstage? I realised that I could mimic the sense of exposure with a choreographed sequence with actors holding fluorescent tube lights over the patient's body in a slow, menacing mechanical motion. I pictured kaleidoscopic patterns spinning about the stage, trapping and releasing the patient to the sound of samples from an MRI scan. I knew it could be done, and I knew it could be really effective at portraying the slow-paced horror of the experience.

The horror of the hospital is audio-visually externalised with striking success...Her scan is brought to life by a balletic dance sequence, bars of light moved automatically back and forth, up and down her body, with eerie precision.

~ Clemmie Read, Isis Magazine

From there, I decided on the patient's narrative, drawing from my own lived experience, and the whole piece became a really cathartic expression of my fears and frustrations with the medical profession and life with chronic illness. The general public usually do not think about chronic illness in the right way. Too often, it is framed as short-lived; something that can be cured or that will go away in time, but this is not the case. It is an ever-present part of who you are from the moment you are diagnosed, and I desperately wanted to do this experience justice onstage.

TRAILER:

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Another notable part of the play is the open ending - we do not know what will happen to Sadie next. I wanted to make sure that the audience leave the theatre with the same kind of uncertainty that people living with chronic illness experience every day. I have had the privilege of sharing this piece with friends who also live with chronic illnesses, and the response I have received has been overwhelming. They have been able to connect with the themes and resonate with the characters in ways that I never imagined. I am optimistic that this play can contribute to the discussion around chronic illness, as well as providing an emotional and visual spectacle for its audience.

Todd’s writing also deserves more praise than I have space for here, in managing to craft a complex and realistic interior life for Sadie through dialogue that was quietly beautiful but never heavy-handed or enamoured by its own poetry.

~ Teagan Riches, Cherwell

In putting the show together, we took great care to build a team of creatives living with chronic illnesses and disability, as well as neurodivergent creatives. I passionately believe that people with chronic illnesses are capable of producing top-tier theatre and can offer a fresh artistic perspective. Showcasing the talents of disabled, neurodivergent and chronically ill creatives will hopefully start to open up conversations about how we can make the artistic industries more inclusive to all.

Sensitively, dramatically, with thorough research and heart-wrenchingly good acting, it takes us through the stages, and we feel Sadie's pain, anger and confusion every step of the way.

~ Peter Kessler, BAFTA-winning TV Producer

The critical response we received for the play was astounding. Since it was my first attempt at writing a full length play, I expected little more than tepid applause and a few cursory compliments thrown in our general direction, but I could never have prepared for the kind words we received from audience members and critics alike. A number of audience members approached me after the show finished to share their own personal experiences that they saw reflected so completely onstage. I couldn't have wished for better. It was so heartwarming to see my words brought to life by such an impressive cast and crew, and the way that we collectively touched so many people who came to see the show. I am endlessly grateful to every member of the company for their hard work and dedication to the show.

A beautiful, touching play that is as relatable as it is uncomfortable to watch.

~ Ruth Port, The Oxford Blue

I can't help but be left with the feeling that this show was such a fundamentally positive learning experience and it was a huge privilege to see it on the stage. Something tells me I've caught the writing/directing bug, and I'll be back here sometime soon.

Deeply moving and emotionally honest.

~ Teagan Riches, Cherwell

With any luck, this won't be the last you see of SKIN, so stay tuned!

I would like to give special thanks to Nicole Kitsberg, Eleanor Dunlop, Mina Moniri and Georgie Dettmer for their guidance and script advice, as well as my family for their love and support throughout.