Whole
Info
WHOLE is a gritty, funny and uncompromising new play for teenagers and young adults- exploring sexuality, love, death and religion, with live music and spoken word.
What happens when you're in a hole?
What happens when that hole's inside you?
What do you fill it with to make yourself feel whole?
Last year, 3 teenagers emailed 20 Stories High to ask if they could make a play about their friend Holly. This is how it unravelled….
Teenagers: …So that’s our story and we really want to tell it... and we want to play ourselves… cos actors wouldn’t really be as convincing as us…
20 Stories High: It’s a very moving story… but we’ve got loads on at the moment... we’re really sorry...
Teenagers: But we really want to tell this story…it’s important. It says on your website that “Everybody’s got a story to tell… and their own way of telling it…” We thought you’d help us…
20 Stories High: OK …well come back in a year, when we’re less busy, and let’s talk…
One Year Later… This is the play we made with them… WHOLE… with live music and outspoken truths…
Cast & Company
The tour
WHOLE is touring to small-scale national venues and Merseyside schools from Jan 31 2013 - March 28 2013. Suitable for ages 13+ due to strong lanuage and sexual references.
Reviews
"Yet again @20StoriesHigh deliver another beautiful show.”
“I wish every 15 yr old in England could see "Whole" @20StoriesHigh it tackles such an important issue that can destroy young lives!”
“WHOLE was a huge success in our school, and a real joy and a privilege to host. Pupils, who can usually be challenging and hard to engage, were gripped throughout the entire performance… As well as being an accessible piece of theatre enjoyed by staff and pupils alike, it has prompted insightful and thought provoking conversations that will long continue.”
“I can’t quite find the words that are required to give the production the respect and praise it so deserves. It is such a raw truthful production played magnificently by the cast and directed so delicately… I personally found it a real journey of emotion and reflection.”
This immaculately integrated four-hander…is one of the most hard-hitting and moving pieces of theatre for young audiences I’ve ever seen…a remarkable piece of startlingly good theatre. See it if you possibly can.
The best show I have seen at Unity in some time, truly astounding.
...distressingly real, wonderfully charged and written and acted with so much passion and brilliance that not only is Whole one of the finest things you are likely to see this year but it will also leave you grasping at thoughts of those you may have wronged at school.
[The actors] appear with conviction and passion, engrossing you in this modern tale - an unflinchingly honest exploration of sexuality and religion... It is peppered with funny moments... despite the serious issues being tackled... a dynamic and challenging piece of theatre.
...the pain and emotion triggered by Dylan's deeper secret and its revelation... leaves both actors and audience in tears. The fact that the audience was made up predominantly of young people shows how effective theatre can be at engaging youth.
Partners
WHOLE is supported by Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Esmee Fairburn.
WHOLE is presented in partnership with The Albert Kennedy Trust.
Signpost
NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
The Albert Kennedy Trust (main social partner): www.akt.org.uk
AKT supports young LGBT 16-25 year olds who are made homeless or living in a hostile environment. We support several hundred young people every year who have experienced domestic violence or have been ejected from home just for being brave enough to come out as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans to their parents or care giver.
YoungMinds: www.youngminds.org.uk / 0808 802 5544
YoungMinds are the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.
Shelter: 0808 330 1234 / www.shelter .org.uk
Shelter is a charity that works to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing.
Stonewall: www.stonewall.org.uk / 08000 502020
Stonewall work for equality and justice for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.
Childline: www.childline.org.uk / 08001111
Childline is a free 24 hour counseling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday in the UK, provided by NSPCC.
Missing People: www.missingpeople.org.uk / 116 000
Missing People offer a lifeline for people who run away and go missing, providing specialised support to ease the heartache and confusion, and help search for missing loved ones.
The Gay Christian Network - www.gaychristian.net
MERSEYSIDE/NORTH WEST ORGANISATIONS:
GYRO: www.gyro.org.uk / 0151 707 1025
GYRO (gay youth 'r' out) is Liverpool's youth group for young people aged 13 to 25 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, or questioning (LGBTQ).
Homotopia: www.homotopia.net / 0151 702 7369
Homotopia presents a high quality annual festival every November with trailblazers throughout the year. They also have a groundbreaking social justice and youth engagement programme which is all year round.
Crisis Skylight (Merseyside): www.crisis.org.uk / 0151 2187016
Crisis Skylight Merseyside is an outreach service that works with homeless and vulnerably housed people.
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation www.lgf.org.uk / 0845 3 30 30 30
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) is a vibrant charity with a wide portfolio of well-established services and range of initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Bullybusters: www.bullybusters.org.uk / 0800 169 6928
Bully Busters is an Anti Bullying organisation providing support for victims of bullying and their families.
