Loud, angry and raw –Valeriedives unflinchingly into the realities of mental illness.
Fresh at the Edinburgh Fringe from huge success in Auckland (★★★★★Theatre Scenes) and being named as stand out cabaret of the 2016 by the New Zealand Herald, it is already being tipped as one of the hottest shows in the Summerhall programme.
Part gig, part story – it’s a stylish show driven as much by powerful music as it is by the spoken word.
Writer, composer and performer Robin Kelly was inspired to write Valerieby his own grandmother’s battle to support a troubled family.
He says: “It’s explores the despair, dislocation and nearly overwhelming impact of severe mental illness. It tells some pretty brutal truths, and at times it is loud, angry and even violent.
“At the same time it honours the women, like my grandmother Valerie, who struggle throughout their lives to protect and care for the people they love.”
The title role is taken by actor, guitarist and singer Cherie Moore who appears alongside Kelly and drummer Tom Broome. Together they intersperse the compelling narrative with a series of powerful blues-style songs.
Reviews for Valerie have been superb. It was called a “close to a perfect piece of theatre” by Pantograph Punch, “an intensely intimate piece of ‘gig theatre’ ” by OnMagand “excellent, moving theatre, devised and performed with skill and a lot of heart” by Theatre Review.
Kelly adds:“I’ve written songs that explore the connection between experiences across generations. It goes into some very dark places but ultimately it’s about love.”
The Fringe offers the first chance for audiences outside New Zealand to see Valerie which isdirected by Benjamin Henson andpresented by Last Tapes Theatre Company. The company has a long, successful track record The Last Five Years, Verbatim,Earnest, Fallout: The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, Love and Information) and sums up its ethos as “theatre that gives a shit”.
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Notes for editors
Listings Details
- Venue: Summerhall, Cairns Lecture Theatre
- Dates: 3-26 August, preview 1 August
- Time: 21:15
- Duration: 65 mins
- Ticket prices: Full price £12, concessions £10, preview £5
- Box office: summerhall.co.uk/book-tickets/and https://tickets.edfringe.com
- Valerie is written by Robin Kelly,composed and performed by Robin Kelly, Tom Broome and Cherie Moore, directed by Benjamin Henson andpresented by Last Tapes Theatre Company.See lasttapes.co.nz
For media information contact Matthew Shelley at [email protected].