Meet the cast of peeling
This October we have the groundbreaking Taking Flight Theatre back with Peeling.
Taking Flight Theatre break down barriers to the theatre & take risks in pushing the boundaries of creative access. They challenge perceptions of disability & place disabled creatives firmly centre stage.
In shadow, three performers await their brief moment in the light.
Often blisteringly funny, at times almost unbearably painful; peeling takes us backstage into a world of stories, of secrets, and a world where these fierce, intelligent women are always the chorus and never the lead.
Hear from the cast about why they think this performance is so important and how they are approaching their roles…
Bea Webster
“I think peeling is very important right now because the issues are still hugely relevant to the current times as it was when it was first written, especially in the era of Donald Trump, Boris Johnston & the rise of right wing. Where Deaf/disabled people are seen as a drain on society, & where mostly men still decide women’s reproductive rights. So the barriers are even greater for Deaf/disabled women. Also I think because we are so far removed from wars in other countries, that we still forget the reality of what is done to those people especially women & children. I relate to Alfa in some ways. We both want to play a Hecuba or an Andromache, roles that stereotypically don’t go to Deaf/disabled actors instead of getting roles because we are Deaf. So we are both passionate about dismantling that idea.”
Bea is a Glasgow based actor and theatre maker who have recently graduated from BA Performance in British Sign Language and English at RCsOfficial
“peeling is an essential piece of theatre because it is a fierce, funny and realistic representation of women and disability in a world that doesn’t have enough respect for either. It’s at once wonderful and challenging to perform in sign language because the writing is beautiful but there’s also a lot of dark, traumatic imagery which I have to convey. I was so fortunate to work with the amazing BSL consultant Jean St Clair on the translation.
My character Zoe is the stage manager and integrated BSL interpreter. She doesn’t appear in the script so I’ve had the freedom to develop her background and personality myself and I’ve decided she has Deaf family like me which is why she can sign.”
Erin is an actor, writer, producer and trainee sign language interpreter based in London. She is a Lead Artist with D H Ensemble theatre company. Her debut play as a writer, People of the Eye, is an autobiographical piece about her relationship with her sister who is Deaf and their family’s experiences discovering sign language.
Stephanie Lacey
“peeling, for me, is a play that speaks to the exclusive nature of theatre and the lack of authentic representation for disabled people on our stages. This is something that Coral addresses directly within the play and something I have experienced as an actor and disabled person myself. As much as I love the play, I feel it’s a great shame that the themes of exclusion, women’s agency over reproductive choices and negative perceptions of disability are still as pertinent in today’s social and political climate as they were when peeling was written all those years ago. I am grateful to those who are working to redress the balance and include disabled narratives within their productions, and is something that peeling does in such an authentic, funny and witty way.”
Stephanie plays Coral in peeling is an actor and writer, and has recently appeared in Cinder-chuffin-Rella and The Speed Date both written by herself and performed at 53two in Manchester. Her short play Enda Rit All is currently being produced for Podcast by mancmade Stephanie also enjoyed performing Kim Taylor’s play The Flat for Manchester ADP at The Lowry last year. She is currently studying for her PhD in Urban Studies at the The University of Sheffield.
Don’t miss out on seeing this exceptional production at The Courtyard on Thursday 3 October.