VAULT Festival Evening Standard Pick
NHS therapist Luc is fine. Honest. She’s definitely not overwhelmed by meeting Owen, a new client, definitely not freaked out by what she’s started seeing, definitely doesn’t think her reality has been punctured and something else is leaking in. Luc goes for a swim and feels a hand dragging her down to the bottom of the lake…
When she surfaces, her reality is different. She’s haunted by tormented mice, shape-shifting people, and secrets she thought she’d buried.
In this breath-taking new two-hander, motion sensor tech combines with motion-responsive video design and composition to create a contemporary Through the Looking Glass world.
All performances relaxed, audiodescribed and captioned.
SURFACING is a new play by Tom Powell, 2021 Papatango Prize winner (‘A modest masterpiece’ ★★★★★ – The Stage), directed by RTST Sir Peter Hall Award 2022 winner Stephen Bailey, their first collaboration since ★★★★★, Offie-nominated Little Echoes. Performed by Rosie Gray (Barrel Organ & Olivier Award winner for The Old Bridge) and Daniel Rainford (Private Peaceful & Once Upon a Time in Nazi Occupied Tunisia).
Supported by Arts Council England and Pentabus Theatre.
Tom Powell: In 2021, Tom received the Papatango Prize for his play ‘The Silence and The Noise’ which was recorded as an audio play and toured 12 venues across the UK. He was Pentabus Writer in Residence for 2020 & 2021. Tom was a participant of the BBC Studios Writer’s Academy 2020, writing for Holby City & Eastenders. His original audio drama Love Beyond the Zoo was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2021. Produced plays include 'I Dare You' (In Good Company) & Little Echoes (The Hope). He was a participant in the Royal Court Introductory Group & Soho Writers Alumni Group. As a student he won the OTR National Radio Drama Award and the Footlights’ Harry Porter Prize and was shortlisted for the Soho Young Writers’ Award in 2015.
Stephen Bailey: Stephen is a neurodivergent director & theatre maker. They've recently worked with the National Theatre, The Kiln, Graeae & Half Moon Theatre. Credits include Who Plays Who (The Albany), Yoga for the Feet (Digital), How to Make a Cup of Tea (digital), Little Echoes (The Hope) & Invisible Condition (Camden Etcetera). They were a Barbican Open Lab Artist in 2022, resident assistant director at Chichester Festival Theatre 2020 & 2021, and resident director for the European Theatre Convention 2018. In 2022 he won the RTST Sir Peter Hall Award and will direct their first mainstage show at Nottingham Playhouse in August.
ASYLUM Arts is a company focused on improving the representation of neurodiversity and disability in the arts. Founded by Stephen Bailey in 2021 ASYLUM produces work, delivers training on neurodiverse inclusion and reinvests its profits in training for early career disabled and neurodivergent practitioners. ASYLUM is a Barbican Open Lab resident company and was shortlisted for New Diorama's Untapped Award 2022. They've been commissioned by Lewisham Borough of Culture and London Liberty Festival. Arts Council England funded their first training program for disabled artists.
Press & Reviews
Praise for previous work:
The Silence and the Noise 2021
The Stage
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
‘A modest masterpiece’
How to Make a Cup of Tea 2021
The Stage
★★★★
'Very funny'
Pocket Sized Theatre
★★★★
'powerful, frank and necessary'
Little Echoes 2019
The Review Chap
★★★★
‘…theatrical sophistication like this don’t come along every day’.
@GetTheChance4U
★★★★★
@pubtheatres1
★★★★
@ActDrop
★★★★
Cast & Creative Team Cast
Luc: ROSIE GRAY
Owen: DANIEL RAINFORD
Voice of Young Girl: IMOGEN STRACHAN
Creative Team
Story & Text: TOM POWELL
Direction & Dramaturgy: STEPHEN BAILEY
Video Design & Captions: BEN GLOVER
Sound Design & Composition: DAVID DENYER
Co-Lighting Designer: ABI TURNER
Co-Lighting Designer: ALEX MUSGRAVE
Production Designer: VICTORIA MAYTOM
Original Design Concepts: TK HAY
Mouse Costume Fabricated by: NIKITA VERBOON
Stage Manager: HARRY ADU FAULKNER
VI Consultant: SAMUEL BREWER
IAPT Consultant: JASMINE MARTINEZ
Research Consultant: DR RUTH COOPER
Publicity Design: BJÖRN BAUER