Cumbrian-born writer Kyra Scott hopes her latest play will encourage women to talk openly about struggles around body image.
Unboxing is presented at The Meeting Place, Barrow-in-Furness on Thursday, March 26. Tickets are free or by donation.
It is the latest drama from Theatre Factory as part of its IF! Inclusion Festival – a year-long programme of plays about Barrow life.
Unboxing has themes of family conflict, generational relationships and female body image. As part of Kyra’s research, more than 100 women of all ages from across Barrow got in touch with their feelings.
Kyra writes and stars in the production as Jess, alongside Eithne Browne who plays her grandmother Nora.
Jess and Nora’s close bond is put to the test after old memories bring up unspoken issues. Is their relationship as honest as Nora thought? And are they actually more similar than they realise?
Eithne has a 40-plus year career in drama from the first production of Blood Brothers at the Liverpool Playhouse to Channel 4’s Brookside. She has appeared on stage, screen, radio, classrooms, hospitals and the world famous Mersey Ferry.
Kyra said: “I sensed a struggle for women surrounding body image and societal expectations. This is a theme I already felt passionate about, so I felt inspired to create work around it.
“To ensure I was writing not only from my own feelings and experiences, we asked women across Barrow what they thought and more than 100 people responded. I used their experiences to help create and build the script.
“The intergenerational aspect of the piece came from ongoing support from different communities in Barrow, as I hope to represent them and make work that is relatable for people, no matter their age.
“My aims for Unboxing are to make women feel seen and heard, to encourage people to speak openly about struggles and frustrations and to raise the question ‘What can we do to make this better for future generations?’”
On the night there will be additional performances from some of Barrow’s best up-and-coming female musicians and DJs.
Free tickets for Unboxing are available here.
IF! Inclusion Festival has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England, Westmorland and Furness Council, John Fisher Foundation, Granada Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation.
