A POWERFUL new play written by The Witham’s youth theatre leader, Christina Castling, is coming to Teesdale this autumn.
Beyond Caring is Ms Castling’s second full length play and takes a frank, humorous and often heart-breaking look at life behind the doors of a care home.
Audiences are being invited to meet Queenie, Elaine and Alex, resident, relative and carer at Cedar Point Care Home, a place where the corridors roar with laughter and ache with sadness and outrageous antics mingle with tough conversations.
Care home residents Queenie, played by Judi Earl (Vera, Joe Maddison’s War) is staging a protest because she wants to have a tab and can’t have one without being supervised. Elaine, whose mum is busy deciding whether she wants to go into a care home, will be played by Jacqueline Phillips (Emmerdale, Inspector George Gently) and Alex, a carer working in the care home will be brought to life by Rosie Stancliffe (Danny and Mick, In Waiting).
The play, which comes to The Witham, in Barnard Castle, on Friday, October 20, follows the success of Ms Castling’s first full length offering, A Way Home, that toured theatre and community venues in the north east last year.
She said: “In 2021 I interviewed carers, residents and their relatives at care homes across the north east to better understand the reality of working, living or supporting someone living in a care home.”
As part of the north east tour Beyond Caring, directed by Jonluke McKie, will feature two celebration events to encourage care staff to explore their wellbeing and help them feel empowered.
Ms Castling added: “We’re delighted that Beyond Caring will help facilitate crucial conversations about the wellbeing of care home staff. We hope the play will have a lasting impact on audiences, while demonstrating how the arts can play a meaningful role in encouraging debate around timely issues.”
Tickets, which cost £12 for under 16s and £14 for adults are on sale now. To book visit thewitham.org.uk
