'Troubled' is a 60 minute semi-autobiographical solo show from the Less Alone, More Alive! Project about love, death and division.
Currently in development. To find out more, please click below or feel free to get in touch.
"...and I run.
I run from myself, to myself,
for myself"
Troubled
Troubled
© Photograph: Georgia Hudson
ABOUT
In a divided city, in a divided place, at a divided time, against a backdrop of the 'Troubles', Alice and the voices in her head ‘Big Red’ and ‘Little Red’, explore love, loneliness and the nature of human connection.
Troubled is a 60 minute one woman show about love, death and division, told with tea and biscuits. Memories of violence clash with a big-hearted Irish story, revealing the impact of a childhood shaped by conflict.
The show is accompanied by an optional Less Alone, More Alive! workshop program which teaches creative wellbeing tools and is accompanied by a mental health first aider.
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© Photograph: Cemanthe McKenzie
'An excitingly honest depiction of the power of human connection told with daring vulnerability' -
Haley McGee, Olivier Award Nominated Theatre Maker
© Photograph: Tallulah Self
WHY NOW?
All around the world, right now, we are faced with conflict. Troubled looks at the impact of division on a human being, who needs to acknowledge the past in order to move forwards.
The raw material of the play came from journaling, a wellbeing practice that I use daily. As I began to write about the past, and growing up in the 'Troubles', fragments of material began to create resonances with one another, knots became untangled, and threads of stories began to intertwine. As I wrote, and as I shared what I wrote, I began to feel less alone, and more alive.
Through my experience & involvement within communities such as The London Irish Centre, I saw that what really helped people was the power of story. Whether that is writing their own story, becoming conscious of the stories that loop in their mind, or to be able to connect through stories — to watch a story and say, ‘Yes, that’s me! I felt like that too.’
'Thank you for modelling vulnerability' - Participant at Open School East
JOURNEY
This show has been developed through two rounds of research and development, funded by Art Council England in collaboration with organisations including Camden People’s Theatre, Power of Women and London Irish Centre, Dover Arts Online, The Beaney Museum, Crest Academy, Arts Education Exchange and Open School East.
We are now reviewing proposals from partners who want to take part in the last chapter of our development, and our final, full-stage tour in 2025.
We are looking for the following forms of support:
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Venues to host a performance.
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Workshop delivery partners.
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Match funding.
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Provide support in kind (rehearsal space, marketing support).
If your organisation would like to be involved please contact Susan and her team here.
100% of audience members at Camden People's Theatre said they would like to see a full version of the show.
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© Photograph: Cemanthe McKenzie
© Photograph: Tallulah Self
OUTREACH
The show is accompanied by optional Less Alone, More Alive! workshops which teach the creative wellbeing skills that Susan used to aid her wellbeing and creative process, through a ‘Creative Wellbeing Toolkit.’
The workshops have been delivered to over 100 people across the South East of England, including groups with neurodivergent groups & mental health challenges, and with vulnerable groups including unaccompanied asylum seekers, and people experiencing bereavement.
They are formulated to cultivate moments of care, joy and connection, infused with Northern Irish values around the role of food & storytelling in creating communal joy.
Workshops require an environment here we can co-create a space for our session. We bring brightly coloured rugs, cushions and these sessions are accompanied by music. A space to make and serve tea and biscuits. The workshops are accompanied by a mental health first aider.
If you would like to book a workshop please contact Susan and her team here.
93% of participants said that they had improved awareness of creative wellbeing tools after taking the workshop.
"Superbly written and acted."
- Audience Member, Camden People's Theatre
© Photograph: Georgia Hudson
CREATIVE TEAM
DIRECTOR
AMIE BURNS - WALKER
Amie is an actor turned director (credits include RSC, BBC). Her performance background led her on to becoming one of the creators of the UK’s longest running immersive theatre show ‘The Great Gatsby’. Amie has been part of Immersive Gatsby's creative team for the past 5 years, directing the West End Transfer and Korean Production.
Amie previously directed ‘Dr Strangelove’ for Secret Cinema and was also a co -founder of The Immersive Ensemble, who are renowned for creating the groundbreaking show 'The Drop Off'.
INTERIM PRODUCER
RUTH MARINER
Ruth Mariner is a writer, director and producer who works across theatre, immersive technology and video games. She has created and produced work for organisations including The Royal Opera House, The Eden Project, The Lawrence Batley Theatre, and Aardman Animations.
© Photograph: Cemanthe McKenzie
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
NANCY KETTLE
Nancy is a Movement Director, Choreographer, Theatre Maker and Teacher with an expansive skill set and a commitment to finding new and potent forms of physical expression. She is an Associate Artist at the Mercury Theatre, where she is currently developing a piece of Dance Theatre entitled Dear NeverLand - inspired by J.M Barrie's Peter Pan. She has worked on a mix of musicals (Our House- Queens Hornchurch, I Capture the Castle – Watford palace/ Bolton Octagon), plays and films
DRAMATURG
ADAM FOSTER
As a playwright, Adam has had work performed at numerous venues including South Hill Park Arts Centre, New Wimbledon Studio, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Exeter Phoenix, the Northcott Theatre and at the Edinburgh Fringe. His play, Long Short story, was recently produced at the Pleasance Islington. His play Wood, was a smash hit at the Vault Festival in 2019 and transferred to the Omnibus Theatre, Clapham. He is a Margate resident and founder of The Margate Project, an ACE funded series of collaborative creative workshops for local artists.
Tinderbox Theatre Company, Kate Baiden, Lemn Sissay OBE, Emma Ferrier, Haley McGee, Dr Emma Janes, Kat Woods, Patrick Handley, Theatre 503, Caroline Horton, Benn Keaveney of Mind
THANKS TO
